Every day, there are an average of 410 vehicle collisions on Tennessee roads, many of which will forever change the course of a victim’s life. Our car accident lawyers know all too well how crashes can cause severe injuries, increased medical bills, emotional trauma, and time away from work—and the full extent of a victim’s losses may not be obvious until weeks after the initial incident.
Common Injuries Suffered in Tennessee Car Accidents
Statistics have shown that there were over 208,000 car accidents in Tennessee in 2017. The most dangerous time to be on the road is during morning and evening rush hours, as there are more vehicles on the road, and drivers are more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors (such as speeding).
About a quarter of the total statewide crashes in 2017 resulted in injuries, causing pain and hardship for at least 50,174 passengers and drivers. It’s important to remember that these injury statistics are based on injuries that were recorded at the scene of the accident. Many injuries are left out of these initial reports, since victims may only begin to show symptoms hours or even days after the crash.
Car accident victims may experience a variety of serious injuries, including:
- Whiplash. Neck injuries are common in accidents that cause the head to be thrown forward and then backward rapidly (such as rear-end collisions). Whiplash can stretch or tear the tendons and muscle fibers in the neck, resulting in spinal compression or nerve damage that can have an effect throughout the body.
- Head and brain injuries. A driver or passenger may make sudden contact with an airbag, headrest, window, or steering wheel, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Common brain injuries include minor injuries such as concussions and contusions to skull fractures or intracranial hemorrhage. A victim can suffer a debilitating brain injury even if his or her head does not make contact with anything in the vehicle, as the shaking or twisting motions in a crash can shear brain fibers and cause a closed-head injury. While some patients will make a full recovery, head injuries place victims at higher risk of long-term disabilities.
- Facial injuries. A victim may suffer facial lacerations from broken glass, fractures to the nose or cheekbones from airbag deployment, or dental injuries due to contact with the dashboard. In severe cases, victims may suffer eye injuries that result in blindness or burns and scars that cause permanent disfigurement.
- Fractures. Drivers and passengers can break any bone in their bodies in a crash but are at the highest risk of fractures in their collarbones and pelvises (due to tightened seatbelts), hands and fingers (from bracing for impact), and vertebra (from the force of impact to the spine).
- Internal injuries. Car accident victims may suffer internal bleeding or organ damage as a result of impact or puncture wounds, but also due to bone fragments from broken ribs lacerating their insides.
- Back injuries. Herniated discs and torn ligaments can cause excruciating back pain after a crash and may result in permanent physical limitations even after final fusion surgery. If the injury has affected the spinal cord, the victim may suffer partial paralysis (paraplegia) or total paralysis (quadriplegia).
- Wrongful death. Unfortunately, hundreds of people will be fatally injured in a collision or succumb to crash-related injuries every year. These incidents are typically caused by extreme negligence, such as a driver who is drunk or distracted by a cellphone. If you have lost a family member in a car wreck, our lawyers can investigate the details of the case to determine who may be held responsible.
For a free legal consultation, call (615) 807 7900
Our lawyers provide injury clients with a free initial consultation and represent their interests on a contingent fee basis, meaning we do not collect anything unless we secure a recovery for you. To learn more about your claim, download a free copy of our book, The 10 Worst Mistakes You Can Make With Your Tennessee Injury Case.
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