Other Injuries

The personal injury attorneys at Chandler Conway have experience in handling injury claims involving all types of accident-related injuries, especially catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), neck injuries, back injuries, and joint injuries.

Catastrophic injuries

Unfortunately, car accidents, truck accidents, and construction site accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, such as paralysis, brain injuries, severe burn injuries, or loss of limbs. Recently we represented a client who had suffered electrical shock and then plummeted 40 feet to the ground when his boom lift came in contact with an energized power line. As a result, he suffered severe life-threatening injuries, including a brain injury, third-degree burns, multiple broken bones, and loss of the use of one of his arms. Through investigation, we were able to determine the incident was caused by the negligence of both the general contractor and the local power company. As a result, we were able to secure compensation on behalf of our client for the injuries he sustained while also making sure he received the care he needed.

Head Injuries

In any significant accident there is the risk of sustaining a head injury. Unfortunately, injuries to the head often go undiagnosed in the time period immediately following the accident. The nature and extent of a traumatic brain injury can be difficult to determine, especially right after the trauma has occurred. Often symptoms do not fully manifest for days, if not weeks or months, following the incident that led to injury. With any injury claim, but especially with any claim involving injuries to your head and/or spine, it is important to wait until you are fully aware of what your injuries are before you even attempt to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. Keep track of symptoms and speak to those close to you about any ways in which they believe you are acting differently.

A common head injury we see in clients who have been involved in a car accident is a mild traumatic brain injury or MTBI. This label can be misleading, as MBTI can be anything but “mild.” The definition of a mild traumatic brain injury as defined by The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation is any person who has had a traumatically induced physiological disruption of brain function as manifested by at least one of the following:

1. Any period of loss of consciousness;
2. Any loss of memory for events immediately before or after the accident;
3. Any alteration in mental state at the time of the accident;
4. Focal neurological deficit that may or may not be transient but where the severity of the injury does not exceed the following:
   1. Loss of consciousness of approximately 30 minutes or less;
   2. After 30 minutes, an initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 13-15; and
   3. Posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) not greater than 24 hours

If you think you may have suffered a head injury as the result of a motor vehicle accident, contact your doctor immediately and make sure you relay all information to the local injury attorney handling your injury claim. Also, be patient. Wait until enough time has passed to be fully aware of any and all symptoms you may be experiencing. Wait until you have had the chance to meet with your medical professionals. And wait until you have had the opportunity to consult with an experienced injury attorney in your area to discuss all of your options.

Neck Injuries

Along with back injuries, neck injuries are one of the most common injuries we see in our clients who have been injured in an accident. There are many different degrees of injury, ranging from a slight neck strain to multiple herniated discs or even fractured vertebrae. Fortunately, most of the injuries we see do not rise to the level of paralysis; however, even “soft tissue” injuries can be extremely debilitating. And unfortunately, in the early stages following your accident, it is usually difficult to determine what category your injury falls in. Often, what people first believe to be a strain or sprain ends up being a herniated disc injury resulting in surgical intervention. It is important to follow up with your treatment providers and speak up if after conservative care your pain does not improve or your symptoms worsen.

Whiplash Injuries

We have all heard the term “whiplash”. Whiplash is one of, if not the most, common diagnoses given out in the emergency room following a car accident. Whiplash is a diagnosis for a neck strain defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.” Whiplash is usually associated with a rear-end car accident but can also occur as the result of other trauma. If you have received a diagnosis of whiplash, make sure you keep an eye on your symptoms and follow through with your physician’s instructions for treatment, as often an initial diagnosis of whiplash in the ER will later turn out to be a more serious injury such as a herniated disc. Keep in touch with your medical treatment providers and make sure to let them know of all your symptoms. If your symptoms worsen or change, especially if you begin to experience shooting pain or numbness into your shoulders, arms, or anywhere else in your extremities, let your injury attorney know and contact your doctor immediately.

Back Injuries

The most common injury suffered in a car accident is injury to the spine or the muscles and ligaments surrounding it. More than half our clients who have been injured as the result of a motor vehicle accident have suffered some type of injury to their neck or back. Back injuries can be debilitating. Getting the correct treatment at the right time can go a long way toward your recovery and how fast it occurs. If you have suffered a back injury from a car accident, or some other type of accident, it is important to communicate with your doctors and therapists to ensure you have a proper diagnosis and that your treatment is being handled correctly.

Joint Injuries

Joint injuries — especially injuries to the shoulders, knees, wrists, or ankles — are extremely common with both auto accident injury claims, as well as injuries that occur while on the job. Joint injuries often result in surgical intervention and/or extensive rehabilitation and, depending on your job, can have a lasting impact on your future ability to earn income. As with other injuries, when you have suffered significant injury to one of your joints, such as a knee reconstruction or rotator cuff tear, it’s extremely important to know the full extent of your injuries before attempting to negotiate your injury claim. Speak with your local personal injury attorney to discuss timing, as well as whether there is a need for a functional capacity evaluation and loss of earning capacity analysis.