Can I Make a Personal Injury Claim for PTSD and Emotional Distress Caused by a Car Accident?
Most people think about physical injuries when it comes to car accidents but it’s important to understand that emotional distress, psychological trauma, anxiety and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are relatively common problems caused by collisions. This is particularly true when someone was killed or very severely injured in the accident or when cars burst into flames or become mangled beyond recognition.
Emotional injuries can be extremely debilitating – just as much if not more so than physical injuries – making it difficult to work and causing loss of enjoyment of life. According to the American Psychological Association, car accidents are the leading cause of PTSD among the general (non-military) population. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that nine percent of people who survive car accidents develop PTSD.
Read MoreNSC Memorial Day Holiday Period Traffic Fatalities Estimate for 2021
Many people look forward to holiday weekends to get together with friends and family. Sadly, whenever there are more cars on the road combined with holiday drinking, car accidents and traffic fatalities increase. This Memorial Day period*, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 415 people may die on U.S. roads. In addition, they estimate that 47,300 people will seek medical care for injuries they sustain in crashes over the holiday weekend.
*Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday in May but the holiday period is a 3.25-day weekend that begins Friday evening and runs through Monday. In 2021, the Memorial Day weekend extends from 6 p.m. Friday, May 28 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 31.
Read MorePersonal Injury Claims for Failure to Yield Accidents
When it comes to sharing the road with other drivers and pedestrians, you must learn when you have the right-of-way and when you should yield. For example, a driver at a four-way stop must wait until it is their turn to go or they risk crashing into another vehicle who actually had the right-of-way. Failure to yield accidents lead to some very serious injuries every year. If you were the victim of a failure to yield accident, you may find this article helpful.
What is failure to yield the right-of-way?
When a driver is guilty of failure to yield the right-of-way, it means that they didn’t allow other traffic, such as cars or pedestrians, to go when they had the right-of-way.
Read MoreBellingham Man Charged with Vehicular Assault and Felony DUI After High-Speed Crash
As reported by the BellinghamHerald.com, a Bellingham man lost control of his vehicle and crashed on the evening of Tuesday, May 4 in Whatcom County. The accident took place on Marine Drive near the intersection of Ferndale Road, just west of the Nooksack River. The passenger in his vehicle was hospitalized for resulting injuries. Twenty-nine-year-old Toby William Solomon was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of vehicular assault, felony DUI, driving with a suspended license and possession of a dangerous weapon.
Read MoreTop 5 Questions to Ask a Car Accident Witness
When it comes to determining fault in a car accident, witnesses often play an important role in confirming the claimant’s account of the collision. But a witness account is only possible if their contact information is gathered at the scene and if the right questions are asked – often after the injured party has received appropriate medical care and had a chance to calm their nerves. Every accident is different, and in many cases, an accident victim is too injured to interview witnesses at the scene. This is why it is so important to work with a personal injury attorney. An experienced car accident lawyer knows how to question witnesses to get a clear picture of the events that led to the accident from their perspective.
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Read MoreDriver Transported to Bellingham Hospital After Rollover Crash on Birch Bay-Lynden Road
As reported by Whatcom News, Birch Bay-Lynden Road was temporarily closed in both directions at Woodland Road on April 13, 2021, because of a rollover crash with injuries. First responders were called to the scene of the injury crash at 10:25 a.m. and the road was reopened to traffic in both directions about 11:30 a.m. The single-vehicle rollover crash occurred when a Dodge Durango left the road and crashed into a pole on the north side of the road as it was traveling westbound on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. The vehicle landed on its side in a grassy area next to the road. According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rocky Oliphant, the driver was transported by aid to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He also noted that the driver would be arrested for driving under the influence upon release from the hospital.
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Read MoreUW Band Members Awarded $1.4 million in Common Carrier Accident Claim after 2018 Charter Bus Crash
The bus, which was on its way to the Apple Cup at the time, crashed near George, Washington. After the driver lost control in icy conditions and crashed into a ditch. The driver was later cited for driving too fast for the conditions. A traffic citation is often used by the prosecution to show negligence on the part of the defendant. This may have played a part in the jury’s decision to award a settlement.
According to the personal injury firm representing the victims, forty-five people were injured in the crash and many should continue to pursue justice. The four students who were awarded the settlement in varying amounts have post-traumatic stress disorder. Moreover, they suffered a range of serious injuries including a fractured spine, broken bones, an AC joint separation to the shoulder, lacerations, and bruises. At least one of the four students required surgery.
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Car Accident Protection from a Potential Car Accident
Car Accident Protection: How to protect yourself from a potential car accident
Safest States to Drive: Washington State Ranked 8th Safest State to Drive in 2021
Each state has its own driving and insurance laws as well as weather, road conditions and rural versus urban makeup that contribute to road safety and traffic accident rates. What’s the safest states to drive in each year, and why. Naturally, we are interested in where our own state ranks. Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reviews.com ranked all 50 states from safest to the most dangerous to drive in for 2021. Find the complete list here: https://www.reviews.com/insurance/car/most-dangerous-states-for-driving/