Aurora Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident can leave you with severe injuries and anxiety about the financial distress you’re suddenly facing. Medical bills start coming in and stacking up, demanding to be paid, not considering you have missed work while you were recovering from your injuries.

Aurora car accident lawyer Chris Ktenas

If another person’s negligent actions caused your auto accident and injuries, you shouldn’t be stuck with these expenses. The Aurora car accident lawyers at Ktenas Injury Attorneys can fight the at-fault party and insurance companies for your right to recover compensation, and even file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver. We will champion your right to receive fair compensation in a civil court.

To schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced attorney, call us today at (312) 300-2515, or chat with us online to learn how we can help.

What Kind of Injuries Are Caused by Car Accidents?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 36, 096 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic accidents in 2019. Different injuries resulting from car crashes vary depending on the individual circumstances of each collision, however, some injuries are more common than others.

Some car crash injuries may resolve within days with no medical treatment at all. While more serious injuries may become permanent and even result in some level of physical disability.

The kind and severity of bodily injuries that people involved in a car accident sustain depend on the following factors:

  • Was the driver or passenger wearing a seat belt?
  • Was the accident a head-on collision, rear-end collision, or side impact?
  • The direction the person was facing. Was the person facing straight ahead in the seat or was their head turned in a certain direction?
  • Was it a high-speed crash or a low-speed crash?

two cars damaged after a rear end accident

There are two major types of car accident injuries:

  1. Impact injuries
  2. Penetrating injuries.

Typically, impact injuries occur when a person’s body hits some part of the interior of the car. Often, this involves the knee hitting the dashboard or the head hitting the side window or the seat rest. Penetrating injuries include cuts and scrapes. Loose flying objects inside the car on collision or shattering glass often cause these injuries.

Soft Tissue Injuries

A soft tissue injury damages the body’s connective tissues, including muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This is the most common injury resulting from a car crash. A soft tissue injury may include a whiplash injury to the neck and upper back.

Head and Spinal Injuries

Some head injuries can be relatively minor and others quite serious. A vehicle’s unexpected stop or sudden change in direction often causes the driver’s and passenger’s heads to experience sudden and unnatural movements. This can strain muscles in the neck and back. Also, the head itself can be injured. Impact with the steering wheel or a side window can cause cuts, scrapes, bruising to the head, or even deeper lacerations. More serious car accidents can cause a closed head injury. Less serious closed head injuries result in concussions, whereas the most severe closed head wounds can cause a traumatic brain injury.

Chest Injuries

Chest injuries are common in car accidents. These injuries typically involve bruises or contusions. Also, they can be more severe, including internal injuries or broken ribs.

Arm and Leg Injuries

The same force that throws a person’s head unexpectedly can do the same to the arms and legs. For instance, if your car suffers a side collision, your arms and legs may be thrown hard against the door. Often car accidents cause the car occupant’s knees to hit the seats and dashboard. Depending on the severity of the motor vehicle accident, arm and leg injuries may include minor bruises or scrapes, but also breaks and sprains can occur.

It’s essential to note that some injuries aren’t apparent after a car crash. Plus, depending on the kind of bodily injury, it may take days, weeks, or even months for symptoms to become visible. Thus, if you’re involved in a car accident, you must seek medical care for even the slightest discomfort or early sign of injury.

What are the Common Causes of Car Accidents?

There are many reasons why car accidents happen. But most motor vehicle accidents have one thing in common--a driver who was being negligent while driving their car.

Unfortunately, car crashes are responsible for many severe injuries and fatalities in Aurora and across Illinois. Car accident injuries can involve lifelong injuries that can affect significantly the finances and well-being of you and your family. Many factors cause car accidents, including:

Distracted Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 430,000 motor vehicle accidents occur every year because of distracted driving. Nearly 3,000 of these distracted driving accidents result in fatalities. With the increased use of smartphones and computers, the problem will only get worse until motorists recognize that distracted driving is a major problem.

Drunk Driving

Every 51 minutes a person dies because of accidents caused by drunk drivers. These accidents can easily be avoided by using a designated driver. Alcohol and drugs impair drivers’ ability to focus and react to their surroundings on the road.

Excessive Speeding

According to the NHTSA, approximately one-third of all auto fatalities are because of speeding. Speeding reduces a driver’s time to steer around dangerous objects. Also, it affects the driver’s ability to stop their vehicle quickly in emergencies. Besides, the seriousness of the accident increases with the increase of speed of the vehicle at collision.

common causes of car accident infographic

Negligence

A negligent driver is a driver that operates their car with a blatant disregard for the safety of others. Reckless driving actions include:

  • Running red lights
  • Ignoring traffic signs
  • Tailgating
  • Changing lanes frequently.

Adverse Weather

Driving while it’s raining heavily or during dense fog makes it hard to control the car. Drivers must be careful when driving in adverse weather conditions. During bad weather, drivers should reduce speed, and allow extra space between them and the vehicle in front.

Car Failure

A defective car part can cause a severe accident. So, drivers must take their vehicles for routine maintenance to avoid such accidents.

If you have sustained injuries in a car accident in Aurora because of these factors, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact our Aurora auto accident injury law firm for legal advice.

Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Minor Car Accident?

Imagine you’re driving around Aurora in Illinois when another car runs into the back of your car at a spotlight. The damage to your car may be relatively minor, and you may be able to drive your car home after filing a police report. However, even though you can walk and drive, you might feel slight twinges of pain on your shoulders and back. Although you know that the other driver was clearly at fault for the accident, you might be hesitant to file an injury claim because the accident seemed like minor fender bender.

So you ask, “Should I hire a lawyer for a minor auto accident?” Yes, it’s crucial to hire an Illinois car accident attorney for a minor motor vehicle accident in which you sustained an injury.

Often, injuries that seem minor at first following car crashes may be more severe than people realize. Some injuries don’t become apparent until weeks or months after the accident. This may be because of the adrenaline that surges through your body after a crash.

Thus, if you’re a car accident victim, it’s in your best interest to seek medical attention immediately to make sure you’re fine. Then, speak with a skilled auto accident attorney to learn what your options might be. Our qualified car accident lawyers can offer you an honest opinion on whether you need to move forward with a personal injury claim.

If you sustained injuries in an auto accident recently, be sure to call our Aurora car accident attorneys today. Our team of knowledgeable personal injury lawyers has helped car crash victims throughout Illinois get the compensation they deserve. And we can help you too get the maximum compensation you need and deserve for your injuries and other damages like pain and suffering. Timing is crucial in a car accident claim, so don’t wait to call. Call us today at (312) 300-2515, or chat with us online for a free case review.

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