Sacramento Traffic Collision Causes Injuries
A traffic collision on Watt Avenue and Fruitridge Road on September 25 at about 10:00 a.m resulted in injuries. The accident involved a black Honda Civic and three other vehicles. A representative of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that additional vehicles tried to avoid the initial crash by serving away from the area of the traffic collision. Several lanes were blocked by the accident, and a tow truck was en route to remove the black Honda. At the time of this report, no explanation of how the accident happened or whether drugs or alcohol were involved was given. The injuries were initially described as minor, pending further evaluation.
Evaluating Injuries
Even serious injuries can appear to be minor or nonexistent initially after a traffic collision. This is due to the release of adrenaline and endorphins. Adrenaline is the hormone released when people or animals are in a stressful situation. It increases heart rate, blood pressure, and air passages to enable the muscle to receive more blood. It is the flight or fight substance that lets us run or engage with danger. Endorphins minimize the pain sensors, so a person may not realize they are injured. Together, these substances may mask the symptoms of injuries. That is why it is important to be medically evaluated immediately after an accident. A medical professional will be able to tell you if there is a reason to be concerned and what to watch out for in the hours or even days after the crash. Once the hormone level decreases, you may begin to notice symptoms of an injury.
Injuries Are Often Delayed in a Traffic Collision
Certain injury symptoms may be delayed or masked initially. Some of the more common ones are:
- Soft tissue injuries: These involve the ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Many times, when they are injured in a traffic collision, it can take several days or, in some cases, a few weeks until the full damage to the tissues is evident. One of the most common is cervical sprain and strain, commonly referred to as whiplash. Such injuries are often the result of a rear end collision where the neck and head are rapidly propelled forward and then back. Eventually, this injury causes pain, restricted movement, and possibly swelling. A medical professional will be able to diagnose this injury, however, it is not visible on a common X-ray. Treatment involves rest and physical therapy along with over-the-counter analgesics if needed. Recovery can take four to six weeks or considerably longer, depending on the extent of the injury.
- Concussions: This injury occurs when a person hits their head in a traffic collision or the head moves rapidly after impact. When this happens, the brain hits the inner portion of the skull, which is craggy and hard. Initially, symptoms of a concussion may be mild or nonexistent. The concussion can be minor or serious. Some of the symptoms a person will experience with a concussion are:
- Headache
- Problems concentrating
- Memory issues, particularly new events
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sleepiness
- Fatigue
Why Reaching a Settlement Shouldn’t Be Hurried
Most often, clients want to settle damages as quickly as possible after a traffic collision, so they can move on. However, this can be problematic if it happens too quickly. Since some conditions and their symptoms are delayed, the client may be hurting their chances of having medical treatment covered. For instance, a rear-end collision may have caused minor damage to the vehicle, and the injured party may not feel that they were injured. Their insurance company is willing to settle as soon as possible. The insurer knows that the injuries may not yet be evident and wants to get the accident off their plate. In order to receive the payment, the insurance company will require the injured party to sign a release. By doing this, the individual is saying that the sum of money is sufficient to cover all damages, present and future. If symptoms show up later and require treatment, the insurer will not cover it. A medical professional may be able to tell you how long you should wait before settling.
What an Attorney Can Do for You
Our law firm dispatches our investigative team to the scene of the accident to gather evidence pertaining to negligence. An injured party must prove negligence in order for a case to proceed. Our investigators will interview witnesses, review the police report for accuracy, and obtain video footage of the crash if possible. We also review medical reports to evaluate the degree of injury. This evidence is then given to our legal team who will use it to build a strong case against the at-fault driver.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Injuries in a traffic collision can cause physical and financial problems. If this happens to you, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400, or contact me online for free and friendly advice.
I’ve helped clients in Sacramento receive the payments they deserve in all types of car accidents, traumatic injuries and wrongful deaths for more than 37 years.
I am proud to mention my inclusion in the following organizations:
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Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/crash-car-car-crash-accident-1308575/
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