A car accident can cause serious injuries to virtually any part of the body. Some of these injuries can be life-changing, affecting a person’s day-to-day activities and relationships. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you should discuss your options with an experienced Skokie car accident lawyer. At Injury Lawyers of Illinois, we understand the impact of common injuries in car accidents and can help you pursue the compensation that you rightfully deserve for your harm.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Sadly, injuries and deaths due to car accidents may be more common than you may think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 30,000 people are killed in motor vehicle crashes each year in the United States. The CDC also reports that 2.5 million Americans go to the emergency room due to car accidents on an annual basis. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that there were 32,166 deadly accidents and 1,715,000 injury accidents throughout the country in 2015. In Illinois, there were 313,316 auto accidents in 2015, 21 percent of which caused injuries, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The types of injuries suffered by drivers and passengers depend on a number of factors, such as speed, the degree of force, whether a seat belt was worn, where on the car the impact occurred, whether airbags deployed, and more. Common injuries in car accidents include but are not limited to:

• Head and brain injuries – Car accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the country and typically result from the head striking an object like a steering wheel or window. TBI can lead to lingering problems, such as pain, dizziness, attention, mood, and memory. Severe TBIs can lead to permanent disability, coma, or even death.
• Neck and back injuries - Injuries to the neck and back can have long-term consequences. An example of a back injury would be a herniated disc.
• Spinal cord injuries – Spinal cord injuries can range from whiplash to serious nerve impairment. In the most serious cases, spinal cord injuries can lead to partial or total paralysis.
• Soft tissue injuries – These injuries refer to damage to muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A whiplash injury, for instance, is an example of a soft tissue injury. This type of injury can result from both low-speed and high-speed accidents.
• Burns and lacerations – Speed and sudden impact, combined with steel and glass, often result in serious burns or lacerations to the face and other body parts. Sometimes, these injuries can result in long-term or permanent scarring.
• Crush injuries – These injuries result when any part of the body is caught between two objects being pushed together, thereby being crushed.
• Broken bones – Due to the high impact of some car accidents, it is not uncommon for people to suffer broken bones in the arms, legs, or other areas.

Victims who are hurt by the negligent conduct of others have the right to pursue a legal claim. If your car accident was caused by the recklessness or carelessness of another person, you may be able to recover damages by filing a negligence claim against the at-fault party. A person is negligent when he or she fails to act as a reasonable person would have acted under similar circumstances. This duty of care extends to all drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other people on the road. The attorney of a car crash victim who alleges negligence in a personal injury lawsuit has the burden of establishing the following elements: i) the defendant owed the plaintiff a certain duty of care; ii) the defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff; and iii) the defendant’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of the accident. Each of these elements must be demonstrated before any damages can be recovered.

Get Assistance from a Knowledgeable Car Crash Lawyer in the Skokie Area

Unfortunately, people in Illinois and across the United States are injured each day in car accidents. If you have been involved in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation to deal with your injuries and property damage. At Injury Lawyers of Illinois, our diligent attorneys understand how to navigate these complex claims and can protect your rights at every step of the way. We proudly represent people in Skokie, Lincolnwood, and elsewhere in the Greater Chicago area, including in Evanston, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, and Jefferson Park. For more information about your car or truck accident case, call us at 312-929-3807 or at 847-982-9516, or contact us online.