If you suffered injuries in your arms and legs in a car accident, you are not alone. Car accidents are a daily occurrence in Florida, with a total of 3,135 fatalities, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department (FLHSMV).
Often, drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians are injured in car accidents. These injuries disrupt the victim’s life. Everyday tasks, like going to work and enjoying time with family and friends, become difficult when recovering from an injury. It can take months to get better enough to restart regular activities, causing bills to stack up.
Arm and leg injuries are common in car accidents, and victims often receive financial compensation. Consider working with a Gainesville arm and leg injury caused by a car accident lawyer if you or a loved one suffered an injury. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine takes care of everything, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Call us at 1-800-747-3733.
The Important Function of Arms and Legs
We take for granted all the ways we use our arms and legs. An injury of our limbs reminds us of how essential our arms and legs are for everyday activities. Rehabilitation takes time, and the length depends on the severity of the injury. Minor injuries like sprains or minor cuts and bruises can take a few weeks. Broken bones and deep puncture wounds can take months to heal. Surgery, physical therapy, and sometimes amputation is needed in severe cases.
How Limbs Can Suffer Injuries in Car Accidents
A limb injury is any trauma to a limb, including hips, legs, arms, toes, and fingers. There are many ways a car accident can injure limbs. The skin can be punctured or cut. Muscles, ligaments, and tendons can become strained or torn. Hips can get dislocated, and bones can become fractured.
Injuries can be visible right away or take time to show themselves. If you haven’t already, be sure to seek medical help. Without treatment, even minor injuries can develop into something serious. Also, your lawyer can use medical bills as evidence in your case.
Leg Injuries
There are 60 bones per leg, and car accidents can damage or fracture any of these bones. Three primary areas are the:
- Thighbone
- Shinbone
- Calf bone
Breaking the femur is an example of a critical leg-bone break. The femur, also known as the thighbone, can be injured in a car wreck due to the collision’s sheer force. Femurs are the largest bones in the body and challenging to break. Unfortunately, a break in the femur bone is often severe, as they take months to heal.
Arm Injuries
An example of an arm injury may not seem like an arm injury at first. Whiplash is often associated with car accidents, as it is a common injury. The harsh jerking of the neck and spine can result in arm pain and numbness. In addition, the arms are often wounded by glass or flying objects, especially since a natural response is to shield the head.
Signs of Limb Injury
- Nerve damage in limb injuries may feel like pins and needles or numbness.
- The signs of a sprain are usually swelling and bruising.
- A strain often presents as sharp, sudden pain.
- Some people who experience broken bones report extreme pain. There is ordinarily swelling, tenderness, and bruising.
What You May Gain from Pursuing Justice for an Arm and Leg Injury
You may wonder what your case is worth. Many factors contribute to the payout. Your Gainesville arm and leg injury lawyer can help tabulate all the expenses you endured and determine a fair settlement. Your attorney can walk you through all of your expenses, past, present, and future, including:
Medical Expenses
- Doctor and hospital bills
- Ambulance bills
- Physical therapy
- Visiting nurses
- Prescription and medical equipment
- Future medical costs
Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity
You may have also missed work due to your injuries. Your attorney can help you calculate how much money you have lost. A lawyer can also project what you would have made had you not been injured.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering can have an enormous negative impact on your life. Of course, no amount of money equals complete justice. However, winning pain and suffering money can be restorative on your journey to getting well.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733 for help calculating your losses.
How to Help Your Case
Insurance companies may call you with settlement offers after the accident. However, their first offer rarely covers all of your expenses. Your lawyer will communicate with insurance companies, including the other driver’s. While legal counselors gather evidence and handle communications, there are some things you can do to support your case.
- Be cautious about speaking with others about the accident. Insurance reps may try to get you to say something and record your conversation.
- Stay off social media and do not give interviews about the accident.
- You do not need to provide a statement to the insurance company.
- Don’t sign anything without your lawyer.
When Florida Residents Should Seek Legal Counsel
Do not hesitate to find out how legal representation may help your case. The Florida statute of limitations for car accidents in cases is four years after the accident. If you do not settle your claim within the time limit, you will miss the chance to pursue any compensation from the insurance companies or the at-fault driver.
Some victims accept the first settlement offer and forgo hiring an attorney. If you agree to the settlement, you will not be able to pursue anything else in the future, even if you need additional medical treatments.
Accident victims have enough stress; a pending trial seems daunting. The good news is that most cases settle out of court. This means that a fair settlement may be reached before ever going before a judge. If your case goes to court, you also have the option to have a personal injury lawyer fight for you. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733.