Were you hurt in a car accident in San Mateo, CA? Sadly, you are not alone. Motor vehicle accidents are the third leading cause of preventable injuries and deaths nationally. Here in San Mateo County, data reports more than 200 serious car accident injuries and over 30 fatal traffic collisions in a recent year.
However, you could be entitled to compensation for what you suffered if your injuries happened because someone else behaved negligently – and Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP can help you demand it. Contact us now at 650-367-6811 for a free consultation with an experienced San Mateo car accident lawyer.
What Are the Common Injuries Resulting from Car Accidents?
A collision between two motor vehicles puts a tremendous amount of force on the occupants of those vehicles. Even at the relatively low speed of 30 miles per hour, a car accident puts about the same amount of force on the human body as a fall from a three-story building. Given that fact, it’s little wonder that car accidents frequently result in severe injuries like the following:
- Whiplash and neck injuries – One of the most common injuries after a car accident is whiplash. This soft-tissue injury often occurs when a vehicle is struck from behind, as the sudden back-and-forth movement of the head and neck strains muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Many accident victims experience neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion.
- Back and spinal cord injuries – The force of a collision can place incredible stress on the spine, damaging nerves, leading to herniated discs, or even fracturing the vertebrae. In severe accidents, trauma to the spinal cord may result in partial or complete paralysis.
- Shoulder injuries – Shoulder damage can happen when the seat belt restrains the body during a crash or when occupants brace themselves for impact. Common shoulder injuries include rotator cuff tears, dislocations, sprains, and fractures.
- Knee injuries – The inertia involved in a collision can slam occupants’ knees into the dashboard, center console, or other hard surfaces in the vehicle. This impact can cause ligament tears, fractures, dislocations, and other traumatic injuries.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – TBIs can occur when an occupant’s head strikes a window, steering wheel, airbag, or other object during a crash. Even without a direct blow, the force of the collision may be enough to jostle an occupant’s brain into their skull, resulting in a concussion or more serious brain injury.
- Broken bones and fractures – Bones often break when occupants collide with vehicle components or are subjected to sudden impact forces. Common fractures involve the arms, legs, ribs, wrists, and collarbone.
- Internal injuries – The blunt-force trauma of a collision can damage internal organs such as the liver, spleen, lungs, or kidneys. Worse, these injuries may not be immediately visible but can be life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
- Burn injuries – Burn injuries may result from vehicle fires, explosions, contact with hot surfaces, or exposure to hazardous chemicals following a crash.
- Cuts, lacerations, and facial injuries – Broken glass, flying debris, deploying airbags, and impact with interior surfaces can cause cuts and facial injuries. The harm may range from minor abrasions to deep lacerations that leave extensive scarring.
Beyond these physical injuries caused by car accidents, the trauma of a serious collision can lead to psychological and emotional injuries that linger long after bones have knitted and lacerations have scarred over. Car accident victims may experience anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that affects their daily lives and overall well-being.
How a San Mateo Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Injury Victims
The injuries you suffered in a car accident in San Mateo may be severe, but you do not have to face their consequences alone. Instead, you can turn to Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP for support during this difficult time.
While you focus on treating your injuries, our San Mateo car accident attorneys can handle the legal side of things, including:
- Working with your medical team to understand the nature, severity, and long-term consequences of your injuries
- Investigating the underlying accident to determine who is at fault for what happened
- Calculating the financial and personal harm you have suffered because of your injuries so we know what full and fair compensation looks like
- Communicating with insurance companies and other involved parties so you don’t have to
- Negotiating to seek a fair and full settlement that pays you for your injuries without the need for a trial
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and presenting your case in court if the liable insurers won’t make you an acceptable offer
- Never charging you a fee until and unless we recover compensation on your behalf
What Symptoms Should Never Be Ignored After a Car Accident?
Do not ignore any symptoms you experience after a car accident. Even seemingly minor aches and pains could signal an injury that could become severe or even life-threatening without treatment.
That said, certain symptoms are especially serious and require immediate care, such as:
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Back or joint pain
- Discomfort moving affected areas
- Severe headaches, particularly if they worsen
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
Not only does seeking medical attention protect your health, but it also creates crucial documentation linking your symptoms and injuries to the car crash.
How Insurance Companies Challenge Injury Claims
Insurance companies use a number of tactics to fight car accident claims. For instance, they may:
- Claim that their “independent” investigation has cleared their policyholder of liability
- Question the severity of a victim’s injuries or ask for medical records that they can use to suggest an underlying condition is the real culprit
- Ask the victim to give a recorded statement to try to catch them saying something that contradicts a previous statement or can be used to twist fault
- Pressure the victim to accept a “take it or leave it” offer, hoping the victim won’t realize how much their claim might actually be worth before talking to an attorney
- Duck calls, repeatedly ask for the same documentation, and drag out a claim to wear the victim out and make them desperate before offering a lowball settlement
Don’t fall for these tactics. Instead, hand your personal injury case over to our experienced car accident attorneys in San Mateo and let us take on the insurance company for you.
What Compensation Can Be Recovered for Car Accident Injuries?
If you have been injured in a car accident that someone else caused, you may be able to seek compensation through a personal injury claim for your losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
How Much Is a Car Accident Injury Case Worth?
It’s difficult to say how much a given car accident injury case is worth without a careful review of the specific facts. Factors such as the following will likely affect how much an accident victim can expect to recover:
- The severity of their injuries and the cost to treat them
- Whether long-term impairment affects their ability to work or participate in daily activities
- Whether the injured victim contributed to causing the accident
- The extent of applicable insurance coverage and the number of other injury victims
- The strength of the available evidence
How Long Do You Have to File an Injury Claim in California?
California’s statute of limitations on car accident cases typically gives you two (2) years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit against any at-fault parties. If you file after this deadline has passed, the court will most likely dismiss your claim.
While two years might sound like plenty of time, the sooner you contact a personal injury lawyer, the more time they will have to investigate and prepare your claim before the deadline forces them to take action.
Contact a San Mateo Car Accident Injury Lawyer Today
At Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP, we have over four decades of experience securing multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for injury victims.* Our seasoned car accident attorneys blend compassionate advocacy with aggressive legal strategy, remaining selective about the cases we take because we believe in giving our all to each claim.
That dedication makes a difference – and our results show it. For instance, we recovered $16,789,834.54 for a client who was left with paraplegia in a rollover accident caused by a wrong-way driver.*
But behind the figures are real human beings who needed our help and got it. Here’s what one satisfied former client said about our trusted law firm:
“Want to share my great experience! Attorney Joshua Henderson and his team did a truly fantastic job. My mother and I were in a serious car accident, and the police faulted both me and the other driver for causing it which complicated the matter…His team guided me throughout the process and made sure that I understood what information I needed to provide. Case was completed in a timely manner for both my mother and I. I cannot give a higher recommendation for Mr. Henderson!” — Galyna Tolu
Contact us today at 650-367-6811 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney in San Mateo to discuss your car accident injury case.
*Each case is unique, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.