Car Accidents and Personal Injury
Car accidents wreak havoc on the human body. Even low-speed collisions can have serious and debilitating consequences. Sudden deceleration can cause whiplash and herniated discs, rapidly deploying airbags can cause serious frictions burns, and even seatbelts can leave welts and bruises.
What makes car accidents so dangerous?
The human body was not designed to move at great speed. Even the fastest Olympic runners have trouble getting much above 35 miles per hour. Before vehicles, most collisions at that speed would be with stationary objects, but most collisions at 35mph are avoidable anyway.
The trouble is that when vehicles are involved, it becomes less a matter of speed and more a matter of force. A 2000 pound car traveling at 35mph represents much more force than a 200lb person. When you throw in another car traveling in the opposite direction, the forces multiply significantly.
This explains why vehicle accidents can result in serious and permanent injuries even at low speeds. Your body is simply not designed to accommodate the shock of forces of such magnitude. Because of this, car accidents can and often do result in:
- Spinal cord injuries. During sudden changes in velocity, your spine tries to absorb shock, and can wind up transferring shock along its entire length. This condition is called whiplash. Serious whiplash can damage nerves and even herniate discs.
- Traumatic brain injuries. The mildest form of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a concussion. Concussions can result from sudden stops, where the brain is actually thrown against the skull during an accident. The more sudden the stop, the more force involved, the more serious the damage can be. The most severe brain injuries can result in coma and death.
- Lacerations, burns, and permanent disfigurement. Serious accidents involved twisted metal and shattered glass. In some cases, vehicles can catch fire after an accident. All of these hazards can cause serious and debilitating injuries.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident because of another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced South Carolina car accident attorneys can help get you the compensation you deserve. Contact McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC today for a free consultation.
Randy is the former President of the South Carolina Association for Justice. He has been certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as a specialist in Medical Malpractice Law which is recognized by the South Carolina Bar. Randy has also been awarded the distinction of being a “Super Lawyer” 10 times in the last decade. He has over 25 years of experience helping injured people fight back against corporations, hospitals and wrong-doers.
Read more about S. Randall Hood