Catastrophic Injuries and Death in Traffic Accidents
Have you been in a car accident recently? Filing a personal injury claim might help you receive the financial compensation you need. If you have questions about your claim, Silverman, McDonald & Friedman can help. Schedule a free consultation with us in Seaford, Newark, or Wilmington today.
Being in a car accident is frightening and traumatic, and more likely than not you and your passengers end up with severe injuries afterward.
Even worse, it is not uncommon for someone to suffer fatal injuries in a car accident. Route 1, for example, has summer traffic that brings many accidents every summer due to the increased traffic from the cities, and Route 95 is always busy. When it is time for us to travel on these roads, we should know the possible dangers and risks, and how best to avoid them. This is not only to protect ourselves, but those whom with we share the road.
The rising death toll on Delaware’s roads
According to WDEL.com, already this year in Delaware, 33 people have died in 29 car accidents. At the same time last year, there were only 17 fatalities. The Delaware Department of Transportation stated that the ever increasing numbers in traffic accident fatalities in the past few years presents a frightening trend. The publication reports, “As Delaware roadways see their deadliest year in recent memory, [DelDOT Sec. Nicole] Majeski says officials are working to address the issue through a three-pronged approach--through engineering solutions, through enforcement of roadway rules, and through education of motorists.”
Secretary Majeski and Delaware Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen thank other departments and organizations that have supported the DOT in trying to achieve safer roads and highways, and helping them in their goal of “Toward Zero Deaths’ because one fatality on our roadways is too many.”
What are the most deadly types of car accidents?
The attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman have long served clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries from car accidents. We not only serve clients injured car crashes, but the family members of those who do not survive them. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that in 2019, 36,096 died from car accidents. The types of accidents that can often result in severe injuries or fatalities include:
- Head-on collisions. A head-on collision happens when two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions and collide into each other. The IIHS reported that 57 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2019 were due to head-on collisions.
- Multi-car collisions. Multi-car collisions sound like what they are: when one vehicle hits another which hits another and so forth. You usually hear about these accidents on the news when there is a multi-car pileup reported on the highway, oftentimes due to inclement weather. Other causes include drunk driving, distracted driving, and aggressive speeding.
- Sideswipe collisions. Usually, these accidents happen when two cars are traveling in the same direction, but they can also be driving in the opposite direction in the lane nearby. They often also happen at intersections when two cars are taking the left turn at the same time.
- Wrong-way collisions. While these are not the most common type of accidents, they are often fatal, or leave the occupants with severe, life-altering injuries. These accidents occur when someone mistakenly takes a turn onto an one-way street due to poor lighting or signage, along with the same factors that cause other crashes, such as driving under the influence and speeding.
What sorts of catastrophic injuries happen from these accidents?
The injuries that you can suffer from being in a car accident vary greatly, but these types of accidents can leave you with more than just bruises and scrapes, including:
- Traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs with a blow to the head, or when an object strikes the head. When this happens, it can lead to bruising and abrasions on the brain, which can result in internal bleeding and swelling. Symptoms of a TBI include headache, loss of consciousness, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, and amnesia. Even if you think you or a loved one has even a concussion, even mild injuries like that should be taken seriously.
- Spinal cord injury. When the spine is injured, it can cause complications for the rest of the body, as the spinal cord is the highway for your nervous system. One of the major conditions from a spinal cord injury (SCI) is paralysis. Depending on whether the injury is complete or incomplete, you may end up suffering from full or partial paralysis. A complete SCI injury means that there is no feeling in the parts of your body that are located beneath the injured area of your spine; if there is still some sensation and feeling, then that is an incomplete SCI injury.
- Traumatic amputation. A traumatic amputation occurs when a limb is injured so badly at the site of the accident that it is separated, or when the limb is so damaged due to the accident that it must be medically removed. This can lead to a lifetime of complications and pain at the site of the amputation.
- Unfortunately, these sorts of accidents not only often lead to severe and lifelong conditions, but too often the passengers of the car do not survive the crash.
These injuries and accidents can often lead to the death of a loved one. This loss takes a toll on the remaining family, both financially and emotionally. What makes it worse is when their death is caused by the thoughtless negligence or actions of someone else. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, then it is within your legal right to seek compensation for your damages, pain and suffering.
Wrongful death claims in Delaware are governed by state law: Delaware Code Title 10, Chapter 37:
- “(a) An action may be maintained against a person whose wrongful act causes the death of another.
- (b) If the death of a person was caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default of a vessel, an action in rem may be maintained against the vessel.
- (c) If a person whose wrongful act caused the death of another dies before an action under this section is commenced, the action may be maintained against a personal representative.”
In filing a wrongful death claim, you can make sure that these certain costs and damages are covered:
- Medical costs
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost wages and benefits
- Loss of companionship for a spouse
- Loss of parental and household services
- Pain and suffering
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident because of the negligence of another, then you may be eligible for compensation. You should not have to suffer the tragic loss of a family and friend, while worrying about how you will pay for the costs of their funeral, burial, or lost wages.
Silverman, McDonald, & Friedman’s team is a compassionate group of experienced and dedicated attorneys who will handle your case with care and sympathy. We want to make this process as smooth as possible without causing you any further pain or emotional trauma. Call the wrongful death attorneys at Silverman, McDonald, & Friedman at 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form. We provide legal services throughout Delaware from our offices in Newark, Wilmington, and Seaford.
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Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.