Seattle Car Accident Lawyers

What Does a Car Accident Investigation Look Like?

When you hire Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers, we will take care of each step of your case from start to finish. One of the most crucial parts of a legal case is the investigation. We will have to locate evidence that sufficiently proves another person was liable for the accident and your injuries resulting from their actions.

What Are Common Types of Car Accidents?

Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers is a premier car accident attorney in Seattle and has successfully represented many car accident victims, and though every car crash is different, many share common causes. Some of the most common factors we see regularly include but are not limited to:

• RECKLESS DRIVING
• UNSAFE LANE CHANGES
• SPEEDING
• DISTRACTED DRIVING
• IMPROPER TURNS
• DANGEROUS ROADWAYS
• FAILURE TO YIELD
• DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
• INCLEMENT WEATHER
• TAILGATING
• DRIVER FATIGUE
• ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS
• PASSENGER EJECTION
• REAR-END ACCIDENTS
• T-BONE ACCIDENTS
• HIT AND RUN
• SINGLE-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
• MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

Fortunate individuals aren’t hurt; others will suffer significant injuries that often require lengthy initial hospitalizations and several rounds of follow-up care.

THE 5 MOST DANGEROUS CAR ACCIDENTS

What Are Common Injuries Suffered in Car Accidents?

More severe injuries can also impact a person’s ability to work. Some of the most common kinds of car accident injuries that Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers handles include but are not limited to, neck injuries, burn injuries, lacerations, whiplash, organ damage, soft tissue injuries, traumatic brain injuries, nerve damage, broken bones and fractures, spinal cord injuries and paralysis. In extreme circumstances the injuries suffered can be fatal.

Broken bones and fractures

Some fractures are immediately noticeable because the bone protrudes through the skin. But if you have multiple injuries, or if you sustained a closed fracture, it can be difficult to know the true extent of your injuries.

Symptoms of fractures and broken bones include:

• Pain and throbbing
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Sudden deformity of the affected area
• Limited range of motion
• Decreased ability to use your affected limb

There are also different types of fractures, including:

• Closed Fracture: Also known as a simple fracture, this occurs when the broken bone does not puncture through the skin.
• Open Fracture: Also known as a compound fracture, this occurs when the bone breaks and pierces through the skin. Secondary injuries with open fractures include infection and heavy bleeding.
• Complicated Fracture: This involves injury to the structures surrounding a fracture, including veins, nerves, and arteries.
• Comminuted Fracture: This occurs when the bone is shattered into fragments, and often involves a much longer healing time.

Treatment Costs for Fractures and Broken Bones

After a car accident, you may be facing a long road to recovery. This is especially true for those who’ve suffered serious fractures and broken bones. Costs vary, but these are the typical treatment options for fractures and broken bones:

• Splints to immobilize the bone and encourage healing
• Braces to support the fractured bone
• Cast to support and immobilize the fractured bone
• Corrective surgery to hold fragmented pieces of bone together and promote healing

You might require additional treatment beyond correcting the fracture itself. Those suffering from broken bones often need:

• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Pain management
• Assistive medical equipment, such as a wheelchair, walker, or crutches

Recovering Compensation for Broken Bones After a Car Accident

After a car accident, many people attempt to recover compensation on their own by negotiating with the other driver’s insurance company. If you choose this route, the amount you recover will depend on whether the driver is insured, the limits of their policy, the extent of your injuries, and more.

The trouble with this approach is that you might not secure a fair settlement, especially since most car insurance policies don’t cover pain and suffering. After a car accident, you deserve to be fully compensated for the harm you’ve endured, not just for your financial losses.

This is where an attorney can help. An experienced car accident attorney can protect your legal rights, fight on your behalf, and demand the highest compensation available. If you choose to file a personal injury lawsuit for your car accident, you may recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Out-of-pocket costs for ambulance rides and hospital stays
• Costs for corrective surgery, splints, and any other relevant treatment
• Costs for rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Costs for wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, and other equipment to assist your mobility
• Lost wages, if you had to take time off work
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

To learn more about your options for compensation, contact us at (206) 312-0954. Our Seattle car accident attorney is ready to speak with you at a free consultation.

Paralysis

Paralysis refers to a person’s inability to move specific parts of their body. This happens when damage to the spinal cord interferes with the brain’s ability to transmit signals to the area below the injury site. Paralysis causes reduction of or loss of sensation and movement. It can also lead to breathing problems and a decrease in blood flow.

The violent impact during a collision between two vehicles places extreme forces on the body. The violent back and forth or side-to-side motion can cause immediate damage to the spinal cord. If the damage is permanent, the victim might never be able to use their arms or legs again.

Paralysis occurs when a person loses control of their muscles in an area of the body. Multiple factors could cause this type of injury, including car accidents.

Doctors classify different types of paralysis by the location of the injury and the severity of the damage.

Location

Localized paralysis only affects one area of the body. Generalized paralysis can affect multiple body parts. The various types of generalized paralysis include:

• Monoplegia – Only one leg or arm becomes paralyzed
• Hemiplegia – Paralysis only affects one arm and one leg on the same side of the body
• Paraplegia – Both legs become paralyzed
• Quadriplegia – This affects both legs and both arms

Severity

The severity of the paralysis falls under two main categories:

• Complete – Complete paralysis means the brain can’t transmit signals to the body part below the site of the injury due to the extensive damage to the spinal cord.
• Incomplete – Incomplete paralysis reduces the brain’s ability to send signals to the area below the injury site, meaning there might be only a partial loss of movement and sensation in a limb.

What Are Complications of Paralysis?

Paralysis doesn’t only limit or eliminate the ability to move muscles and feel sensations in the body. It can also affect bodily functions. Common complications of paralysis depend on the type of paralysis suffered and can include:

• Blood clots
• Sexual dysfunction
• Trouble breathing
• Sepsis
• Low blood pressure or high blood pressure
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Depression and anxiety
• Heart problems
• Bedsores

It’s critical to seek immediate emergency care after a car accident. A doctor can recommend a treatment plan so you can try to regain some movement in your arms or legs. If you don’t follow your physician’s orders, complications could arise, leading to additional medical issues.

How to Treat Paralysis?

There isn’t a cure for paralysis, but various types of treatment could help patients regain partial muscle control and physical sensation. The treatment plan your medical provider recommends will depend on the extent of the injury and which bodily functions it affects but could include:

• Prescription drugs
• Physical therapy
• Nerve transfer surgery
• Mobility devices
• Occupational therapy

In some cases, surgery might be necessary. If the accident caused one or multiple vertebrae to fracture, the surgeon would have to remove pieces to prevent them from puncturing an organ nearby. Realigning the spine with screws and plates could stabilize it, so it heals in the correct position.

What Damages Can Victims Recover For Paralysis After a Car Accident?

Washington is a fault state. That means the at-fault motorist could become financially responsible for your injury and losses. State law requires auto insurance with minimum limits of liability for bodily injury and property damage. If you file an insurance claim, the settlement you receive could cover some or all of the losses you suffered, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Medical bills
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Property damage
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity

Paralysis often results in expensive medical bills and additional costs. If the negligent driver’s liability limits don’t adequately compensate for your losses, you might be able to file a claim with your auto insurance carrier.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage isn’t a legal requirement for drivers in Washington. It can compensate accident victims if the motorist responsible for the crash doesn’t have liability insurance or high enough limits. If your policy includes UM coverage, you could file a claim to cover your compensatory losses, such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered by car accident victims, but its symptoms are often ignored. When left untreated, whiplash can be disruptive to daily life and cause years of pain or discomfort.

If you were recently in a car accident and sustained whiplash injuries, it’s critical to speak with an experienced attorney. An attorney can protect your legal rights, and demand compensation from negligent parties who caused your injuries.

What is Whiplash? 

Whiplash is a term that refers to soft tissue damage to the neck. Specifically, whiplash injuries may include:

• Hyperextension injuries
• Hyperflexion injuries
• Myofascial injuries
• Neck strain
• Cervical sprain

Whiplash is caused by sudden back-and-forth motions, which often occur during vehicle collisions. For example, if your car was rear-ended, the impact would cause your body to jolt forward. Meanwhile, your head would stay in place for a moment and then snap forward in a whip-like motion. This extreme flexion and extension of the neck cause muscle strain and torn ligaments.

What Are Whiplash Symptoms?

After a car accident, the symptoms of whiplash may appear gradually. This can make it difficult to know whether you’ve actually sustained any injuries. Some people involved in low-speed collisions assume they are injury-free, but whiplash can occur even at low speeds.

Early signs and symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck pain
• Neck stiffness
• Decreased ability to move the neck
• Headaches, typically starting at the base of the skull
• Pain or tenderness in the arms, shoulders, and upper back
• Dizziness and blurred vision
• Tingling or “pins-and-needles” sensations in the arms
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue
• Irritability and anxiety
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Keep an eye out for the above symptoms if you were recently involved in a car collision, even if it was a low-speed accident. If you believe you’ve sustained whiplash injuries, you should seek immediate medical treatment and then contact a car accident attorney.

Nerve pain and damage can result from the trauma or compression that occurs during the impact of a car accident. Nerves are crucial to the proper function of your body, so any harm done to them should always be taken seriously and treated by appropriate medical specialists to ensure maximum recovery.

What Is Nerve Damage?

Nerves are tissues that connect our organs to the nervous system and conduct nerve impulses. The nervous system is involved in every function of the body, such as sensing hot and cold, controlling muscles, and regulating breathing. Nerves are divided into three categories:

1. Autonomic nerves control the involuntary or partially voluntary activities of your body, including blood pressure, digestion, heart rate, and temperature regulation.
2. Motor nerves control movements and actions. They pass signals from your brain and spinal cord to your muscles.
3. Sensory nerves relay information from your skin and muscles back to your spinal cord and brain. This is how you feel pain and other sensations.

When nerves are healthy, your brain receives the information it needs for pain awareness, the proper function of internal organs, and muscle movement. When nerves are impaired, the brain may not receive all the information it needs, and you can experience pain, or your muscles may not move properly.

How Does Nerve Damage Happen in a Car Accident?

The force of sudden movement or impact to the body during a car accident can compress nerves in the back or spinal cord and interfere with how they transmit signals. The following conditions are examples of how nerve damage occurs.

• Lacerations can sever nerve tissue.
• Pinched Nerve: A bone spur or ruptured disc can pinch the nerves that run down the arm or spine or arm.
• Broken or Dislocated Bones: A bone that gets moved out of place can compress or damage the nerves located nearby.
• Whiplash: When your head and neck are jolted back and forth, extra pressure is placed on nerves in your spine or neck.

Internal Organ damage

Damage to internal organs is a serious medical condition that must be treated immediately. You will also need ongoing care to avoid severe complications such as internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death.

What Organs Are Commonly Injured After Car Accidents?

Any substantial injury to the abdominal area could result in some type of organ damage. Organs located in the abdominal area are especially vulnerable to trauma because the abdomen is a relatively unprotected area of the body. The abdomen depends only on soft tissue for protection and has no bony structural defense. Many of the vital organ systems are housed in the abdominal area and are therefore susceptible to many types of injuries during a car accident. These three organs are the most commonly damaged in car accidents:

Liver – The liver is the body’s largest internal organ, and its purpose is to work with the gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines to absorb, digest, and process food. The liver filters blood coming from the digestive tract and then passes it on to the rest of the body. This filtering includes detoxifying chemicals and metabolizing drugs, and the liver secretes the toxins that go to the intestines. Another function of the liver is to make proteins used in blood clotting and other vital bodily functions.

Liver injuries can be minor and easily treated, but any damage to the liver can be very serious because of its essential functions within the body and its potential to hemorrhage. Symptoms of liver damage include:

• Pain in the upper right region of the abdomen
• Distended abdomen
• Rapid heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea
• Blood in vomit, feces, or urine

Kidneys – There are two kidneys in the human body. Each is about the size of a fist, and they are located just below the rib cage on either side of the spine. Kidneys serve as filters for blood to remove waste and excess fluid. They also remove acid to maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals in the blood. Nerves, muscles, and other tissues may not work properly if this balance is not maintained. Kidneys also make hormones that serve in controlling blood pressure, making red blood cells, and keeping bones strong.

When the force of a car accident delivers a blow to a person’s lower back, a kidney can be bruised, torn, or rupture. Kidney damage symptoms include:

• Blood in urine
• Abdominal pain or tenderness
• Back pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Spleen – The spleen is located in the upper far left of the abdomen near the stomach, and it filters blood as part of the immune system. Spleens vary in size and shape, but it’s typically fist-shaped and around four inches long. The spleen recycles red blood cells and stores platelets and white blood cells. It also helps fight certain types of bacteria, including the kind that causes meningitis and pneumonia.

The spleen can rupture or be perforated during a car accident and lead to serious internal bleeding. Sometimes the spleen will not rupture until days or weeks after the accident happens. These are typical symptoms of a damaged spleen:

• Internal bleeding
• Clammy, cool, pale skin
• Weak, rapid pulse

It’s critical that you seek medical attention immediately following a car accident, as it may not be immediately evident that you have suffered an injury to an organ. A physician can help to identify injuries that you may not even be aware of.

How Are Damaged Organs Treated?

Even a minor bruise to an internal organ requires medical attention at a hospital. The medical staff will want to confirm that there is damage and see how bad it is with an imaging test, such as a CT scan or ultrasound. You may also have the following treatments while you are there:

• Close monitoring by medical professionals
• Rest and intravenous fluids
• Tests for complications and other injuries

At the very least, you will need to rest at home and stop certain activities until the organ heals. Significant injuries can require more intensive treatment such as a blood transfusion, surgery, or procedures to drain excess fluids or find and stop the source of bleeding.

What Complications Can Occur From Organ Damage?

Organ trauma can be deceiving because sometimes the severity is not immediately obvious. Internal bleeding can occur slowly for days or even weeks before organ malfunction or failure is revealed. Organ failure can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

When the kidneys are seriously damaged and can’t function correctly, it may be necessary to have dialysis. Other complications include urine leakage, infections, anemia, and blood pressure issues.

If a spleen is severely harmed, you can have surgery to remove it. Living without a spleen is not unusual, but it can compromise the immune system and increase the potential for dangerous infections.

Car Accident Ejection Injuries

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30 percent of all fatalities that result from a car accident occur because of an occupant ejection from the vehicle. To this day, it remains to be one of the deadliest types of car accidents that one could be involved in.

Immense damage is dealt to the body of an occupant that pierces through the windshield at high speeds and impacts the ground. Statistics show that individuals ejected from their vehicle during an accident will likely be severely injured or even killed at a rate of three times more than that of an occupant that remained within the vehicle during a crash.

These kinds of accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, but most often it is attributed to negligence. That’s where the vehicle ejection attorneys of Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers come in. With over 10 years of experience in helping clients overcome events caused by negligence, we have earned the financial compensation they need to properly recuperate time and time again. 

Whether from a defective seat belt or a car accident caused by another negligent driver, if you or someone you love has sustained severe injuries or died from a vehicle ejection caused by negligence, contact the Seattle vehicle ejection attorneys of Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers at (206) 312-0954 to set up your FREE consultation today.

What Causes Vehicle Ejection?

Throughout the last century, car and truck manufacturers toiled over design after design in order to ensure that their customers have the safety equipment they need to stay within the vehicle should an impact occur. Nothing, however, is foolproof. Sometimes safety devices fail, unable to secure the driver or other occupants safely within the vehicle.

Drivers of both passenger cars and large trucks are at risk of vehicle ejection, despite how light or massive their vehicles can be. This is due in part to several different causes that can increase the susceptibility of an ejection, namely:

• Defective Seat Belts
• Rollover Accidents
• Inferior Window Glass (e.g. laminated glazing vs. tempered glazing)
• Defective Door Latches
• Damaged Side Windows
• Roof Strength
• Some Curtain Airbags
• Speeding at the Time of the Impact

These causes often lead to two types of ejections that are prevalent in occupant ejection accidents:

1. Partial Ejection – This type of ejection normally happens when there is a malfunction with a seat belt during a vehicular crash. The body of the occupant partially penetrates through the windshield or out of the side window after an impact. This type of ejection also poses more of a danger if the vehicle is rolling over.
2. Complete Ejection – During this type of ejection, the driver is completely ejected from the vehicle. It is not uncommon for the driver to sustain grievous injury or death from the impact through the glass or on the ground, but to make matters worse, rolling vehicles and passing vehicles also pose a dangerous risk, potentially rolling or running over the ejected occupant.

If you or someone you love was involved in a vehicle ejection due to faulty safety equipment or by a negligent driver, the vehicle ejection attorneys of Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you win the compensation you need to cover the injuries you sustained and more.

How to Prevent Vehicle Ejections?

As the old adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This means that taking precautionary measures before getting on the road could likely save your life. The following rules are key preventative measures to take in order to ensure that you and your loved ones remain safe should a car accident occur:

1. Maintain Your Vehicle – Properly maintaining your vehicle on a regular basis can spot any problematic issues such as defective seat belts, windows, door latches, or other vehicle components that, if in poor condition, could cause a vehicle ejection.
2. Don’t Speed – Always stick to the speed limit when you are operating your vehicle. High speeds can propel an occupant out of the cab if safety equipment fails. Always leave with plenty of time to get to your destination without having to rush.
3. Double Check Your Child’s Safety Seat – Always check and recheck to see if your child’s safety seat is properly installed and secured.
4. Encourage the Use of Seat Belts – Seat belts are there to save lives should a car accident occur. Most vehicle ejection fatalities occurred because the occupant wasn’t wearing their seat belt.