CAR ACCIDENT FAQS

Accidents may cause injuries to the lumbar vertebrae (lower back), thoracic vertebrae (upper back), and cervical vertebrae (neck), as well as soft tissue or nerve damage.

Severe impact during an auto accident can cause numerous types of back injuries, and the aftermath may range from nagging chronic pain to life-altering disabilities. In any case, treatment costs can pile up quickly and may continue for years after the accident. Symptoms of back pain include, but are not limited to: 

• Pain that extends from the lower back to the buttocks and upper thigh; in some cases, pain extends all the way to the toes 
• Sharp pains in specific spots anywhere on the back, shoulders or neck 
• Chronic or persistent spinal aches and stiffness 
• Nagging pain in the middle or lower back that manifests after long periods of sitting or standing Discomfort or muscle spasms in the back while standing straight  

These symptoms could indicate one or more of these common back injuries suffered by car accident victims: 

• Fractures 
• Bone misalignment 
• Disc injuries, such as bulging, herniated, protruding or ruptured disc 
• Lumbar strain or sprain 
• Spinal cord trauma 
• Tissue damage  

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after a car crash or any other accident, take the first step by seeking immediate medical attention to determine the extent of your injuries. 

When you seek medical help for your back injury following an auto accident, there are numerous detection options that you can typically expect, including: 

• Computerized Tomography, also known as a CT scan. This is a method used for obtaining numerous images from inside the body. 
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, utilizes radio wave pulses and magnetic fields to view organs and structural aspects of the body.
• X-rays use radiation to view the internal structures of the body. 
• EMG, or Electromyography, records electrical activity within the muscles. 
• Myelography is radiographic examination used to study the spinal areas. 
• SPECT, or Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography, is an imaging technique that uses gamma rays. 

Auto accident victims sometimes suffer back injuries that require surgery. 

Surgical treatment options for back injuries include: 

• Spinal fusion: Also known as Arthrodesis, spinal fusion is a major surgery that entails one of two methods to join separated vertebrae in the lumbar region. Pieces of actual bone taken from a bone bank or from the patient’s own pelvic bone are grafted together, or a metal implant bridges the gap until new bone can grow in its place. 
• Vertebroplasty: When an auto accident victim suffers spinal compression fractures, a doctor may order vertebroplasty. Patients undergoing this outpatient procedure have a type of surgical cement injected to the injured area to bring together broken or cracked vertebrae. 
• Diskectomy: If an auto accident causes a herniated disc, the compression may cause moderate to severe nerve pain throughout the body. To alleviate the pressure on the nerves, a doctor may order a diskectomy. This entails removing the damaged portion of the disc. Typically, this is a minimally invasive surgery that involves small incisions. 
• Artificial disc implant: This is a newer procedure that is intended to alleviate lower back pain caused by damaged or worn discs. A mechanical device is placed between injured discs to help the patient eventually regain range of motion.
• Laminectomy: During this procedure (also called decompression), a surgeon removes the lamina, which is a portion of the vertebra located over to the spinal canal. This opens up space around and alleviates pressure on nerves. 

Free Consultation! Speak Directly With An Experienced Back Injury Lawyer at 419-842-1166 

The content on this page should not be interpreted as or substituted for professional medical advice. We are experienced in working with these injuries, but we are not doctors.

Injuries to the brain caused by accidents can include:

• Concussions
• Contusions
• Penetrating injuries
• Anoxic brain injuries

RECOVERING FROM A BRAIN INJURY

One of the most unfortunate injuries associated with auto accidents, falls and other types of accidents is TBI or traumatic brain injury. In general, TBI can mean a number of different types of impairment, but a simple definition is an alteration or impairment of the brain’s functioning due to a severe blow or jolt to the head. There is a wide range of severity associated with TBI. This can include anything from brief alterations or losses of consciousness to memory loss or amnesia. 

Leg injuries come in many different forms, such as a sprain, break, ACL injury or torn meniscus. During an auto accident, the leg can be broken in one or more of its three main bones: the femur, the tibia and the fibula. Additionally, auto accident victims may suffer from foot or ankle breaks. Severe sprains and muscle tears can be equally or even more debilitating than fractures, and victims of these injuries may feel the effects for the rest of their lives. 

• Symptoms of the potentially debilitating leg, ankle or foot injuries include: 
• Throbbing pain (maybe intermediate) 
• Pain associated with certain physical activities (pain lessens when resting) 
• Changes in physical appearance, such as swelling, bruising or deformities 
• Difficulty walking or inability to bear weight on the injured leg, foot or ankle 
• Wounds such as cuts or protrusion of bone fragments 

Source: Mayo Clinic 

Treatment options for leg injuries vary according to the specific type and severity of the injuries, but doctors may recommend surgery for some cases. Surgery may entail adding implants (wires, plates, screws or rods) to align broken bones and promote healing over time. Some breaks may require less invasive options, such as casts, braces or manual manipulation. However, even these options could result in difficulty performing daily activities and missed time at work. 

When the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tears during an auto accident, the victim may face numerous symptoms that can make mobility difficult. The signs of an ACL injury may begin within hours of the initial injury; they include loud popping sounds when moving the leg or knee joint, swollen knee, significant pain around the knee and unstable knee joint (especially a “giving way” feeling). After an ACL injury, your doctor likely will order physical rehabilitation therapy, or in some cases, surgical reconstruction using another tendon from your leg. 

Another leg injury associated with auto accidents is a torn meniscus. This means that a piece of cartilage in your knee (between the femur and tibia) has twisted to the point of tearing. The meniscus serves as a cushion of sorts that keeps your knee joint stabilized. Usually, your doctor will order physical therapy sessions until you rebuild strength around the knee. You may also have to undergo a reparatory surgical procedure. 

The bursa is a sac of fluid in the knee that eases the tension on pressure points around bones and muscles in the knee. When one or more bursa become inflamed (such as after an auto accident impact), doctors diagnose the condition as bursitis in the knee. Symptoms include loss of mobility, pain and swelling. Doctors typically treat the condition by removing excess fluid, administering corticosteroid injections and ordering physical therapy. Surgery to remove the inflamed bursa is also necessary in some cases. 

For help now, call Zychowicz Law LLC, at 419-842-1166. The call and the advice are free.

Practically any type of injury caused by an auto accident can result in chronic pain, which is a permanent or long-term persistent injury. Injuries that result in chronic pain can be seriously life-altering, and those who suffer from chronic pain may face daily struggles well after completing initial treatments or procedures to treat the original injuries. 

The implications of chronic pain go well beyond the physical aspects, as well. Some research suggests that long-term chronic pain can actually cause chemical changes in the brain that can leave lasting cognitive and psychological damage. For example, an auto accident victim who suffers from chronic pain may also have to deal with depression caused by the persistent pain. A once-healthy person who now has to deal with the daily struggle of chronic pain may undergo severe changes in self-image and self-esteem. Work and other daily activities may become stressful or cumbersome. If chronic pain is causing insomnia, it can drastically alter the victim’s work and family life. 

Our experienced attorneys are well-trained on the debilitating effects of chronic pain caused by auto accidents. If you are suffering from an accident that was not your fault, you may be able to seek compensation for your pain. For help now, call Zychowicz Law LLC, at 419-842-1166. The call and the advice are free.

Countless cases have shown how severely auto accidents can impact the lives of the victims’ families. Often, it’s not just the person injured in the accident who suffers. Loss of consortium is applicable when the benefits of a family or spousal relationships – such as general affection or changes in sexual contact – are deprived as the result of a wrongful injury or death. If a person loses a spouse to a fatal auto accident, he or she can seek compensation based on loss of consortium. Furthermore, “loss of society and companionship” is related to loss of consortium. Loss of companionship deals with the negative effects that an auto accident can have on a relationship, but it deals more with the emotional and social aspects. 

For help now, call Zychowicz Law LLC, at 419-842-1166. The call and the advice are free.

Neck injuries come in many forms and cause different levels of debilitation. Neck injuries are often the unfortunate results of auto accidents because of the jarring impacts that occur when two or more vehicles collide. Common symptoms of neck injuries include: 

• Trouble with balance 
• Pain (including headaches) 
• Limited or diminished movement 
• A ringing sensation in the ears 
• Fatigue and/or anxiety 
• Nausea 
• Insomnia 
• Memory loss or diminished cognitive function 
• Decreased concentration 
• Numbness in extremities 

Depending on the exact nature of the injury, your doctor may order x-rays, an MRI, a CT scan or other types of imaging to diagnose your condition and assess treatment options. These tests typically are performed soon after the accident occurs – perhaps in the emergency room. Serious neck injuries may require surgery, such as fusion (joining vertebrae together), vertebroplasty (bone cement injections to add stability and repair fractures), laminectomy (removing bone to alleviate compression or pressure) and discectomy (herniated disc removal). 

While neck injuries may be common for auto accident victims, the severity and life-altering impact is anything but ordinary. You may experience prolonged recovery and miss significant time off work – in addition to medical bills, loss of activity time with friends and family, and overall pain and suffering. 

If your neck injury is the result of an auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation. For help now, call Toledo Auto Law at 419-842-1166.

Not all injuries caused by accidents are physical injuries. An unfortunate truth about traumatic accidents is that they can leave scars on victims that run deeper than physical wounds. Even those who were apparently uninjured physically during an accident can suffer from stress and mental trauma for a long time after the incident. These victims may be entitled to compensation for their psychiatric injuries. 

Common types of psychiatric injuries associated with traumatic accidents include: 

• Acute stress disorder – Sometimes referred to as “mental shock,” its symptoms include emotional detachment, emptiness, numbness, nightmares, and other signs of psychological trauma for between two days and four weeks following the trigger event, such as a car accident. 

• Adjustment disorder – After a loss, such as the death of a loved one or similar life-altering event, the victim experiences behavioral changes and severe mood swings; this can sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts or behavior. 

• Post-traumatic stress disorder – Also known as PTSD, those who experience it undergoes a variety of issues following life-altering or shocking events, such as severe auto accidents. This includes a changed or warped “fight or flight” response, flashbacks to the traumatic event, nightmares, severe or persistent anxiety or “bad thoughts,” outbursts of anger, guilt or depression, or a feeling of detachment or mental numbness. 

Source: National Institutes of Health 

Occasionally, witnesses to horrific work accidents suffer from debilitating psychiatric injuries, as well, and they may experience some of the symptoms noted above. 

EMOTIONAL INJURIES CAN BE AS DAMAGING AS PHYSICAL INJURIES

Auto accidents and work accidents often leave people out of work, unable to support their family and feeling tremendous anxiety. Victims may also continue to suffer from psychiatric wounds long after the physical wounds have healed. This may take the form of depression, social withdrawal, or excessive anger or irritability. Health insurance may or may not cover treatment for emotional injuries. In either case, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and the attorneys at Zychowicz Law LLC, can help you get the best possible compensation you deserve. 

THE DEBILITATING EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION

Although it’s not always the first thing that comes to mind when you think of injuries caused by motor vehicle and work-related accidents, depression is often a serious and debilitating for people recovering from physical injuries. Symptoms of depression present themselves in various ways, including: 

• Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness
• Unexplained crying spells 
• Lack of pleasure or enjoyment in activities that normally produce joy 
• Loss of appetite 
• Trouble sleeping or consistently sleeping too much 
• Becoming easily agitated or fidgety 
• Decreased energy or fatigue 
• Persistent feelings of guilt 
• Lack of ability to concentrate or focus on tasks 
• Inability to communicate effectively or articulate thoughts 
• Thoughts that often drift to death or suicide 
• Irritability over inconsequential matters 
• The decrease in sex drive 

Source-Mayo Clinic

Typically, a psychiatrist diagnoses major depression. Methods to determine a diagnosis include physical and psychological evaluations. If you’ve been in an auto accident and are suffering from major depression as a result, you have options that could help you get your life back on track. This includes psychotherapy, inpatient or outpatient treatment programs, and antidepressant medications. Furthermore, doctors can order procedures to treat the neurological functions that trigger clinical depression. These methods include electroconvulsive therapy and procedures that stimulate the vagus nerve (X cranial nerve), the thalamus, the globus pallidus or smaller areas of the brain via transcranial magnetic stimulation. 

To speak with an injury lawyer now, call Zychowicz Law LLC, at 419-842-1166. We can answer all of your questions, and the call and the advice are free.

FRACTURES

The term “fracture” refers to a break in any bone in the body. Auto accident victims commonly suffer fractures in their arms and legs, but some of the more severe types of fractures caused by auto accidents are in the back (spinal vertebrae). Fractured vertebrae are unfortunately quite common for victims of serious auto accidents. Vertebrae are extremely important because they protect the spinal cord, which is one of the primary centers of all the body’s functions. The spine also provides shape and support for a person’s body. 

The spine has three main sections: the cervical spine (neck area), the thoracic spine (middle of the back) and the lumbar spine (lower back). The six main types of spinal fractures (and fractures in some other parts of the body) related to auto accidents are: 

• A transverse process fracture is a fracture often caused by an extreme blow to the back or excessive rotation of the spine. 

• Compression fractures in the spine are often small fractures that may be mistaken for general back pain associated with aging or other factors. However, these injuries can be debilitating, as well. 

• A comminuted fracture occurs when a spinal bone breaks apart into two or more fragments. 

• An open fracture, also known as a compound fracture, means that one or more broken bones is displaced and pierces the skin or protrudes from the skin. This often occurs as the result of a sudden impact, such as those common in auto accidents. 

• A closed fracture simply means the fractured bone does not break the skin. 

• A displacement fracture happens when a bone breaks into at least two parts and the pieces become misaligned as a result. 

Treatment options for spinal fractures include: 

• Physical therapy 
• Medication and vitamin supplements 
• Bracing Intermittent periods of rest 
• Surgery such as vertebroplasty (bone cement injection) or spinal fusion 

Source: Spine-Health 

In addition to the spine, these types of fractures and others can occur in other parts of the body, such as the arms and legs. If you are suffering from fracture(s) after an auto accident, you could be facing large medical bills, time off work, limited mobility, and pain and suffering.

 For help now, call us at 419-842-1166. The call and the advice are free.

Burn injuries can result from a wide range of accidents, including car accidents, house fires, and workplace accidents. These injuries can vary widely in severity, and can be divided into three categories: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree burns.

First-degree burns are the mildest type of burn injury, affecting only the outer layer of skin and causing redness, swelling, and pain. Second-degree burns are more severe, and can cause blistering, thickening of the skin, and considerable pain. Third-degree burns are the most severe type of burn, and can cause extensive damage to all layers of skin and even muscle and bone.

In addition to traditional thermal burns, victims may also suffer chemical burns from exposure to caustic substances, or electrical burns from contact with high-voltage electricity. Regardless of the type of burn injury, victims may require extensive medical treatment, including skin grafts, pain management, and rehabilitation. Victims of burn injuries caused by another party’s negligence may be able to pursue legal action to recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Wrongful death claims arise for various reasons, including, but not limited to, car crashes, trucking crashes, product liability cases, and nursing home cases. At Zychowicz Law LLC, our attorneys are skilled and knowledgeable regarding wrongful death claims and are familiar with all aspects of handling these claims. Zychowicz Law LLC locates the proper party to recover against and builds each case individually based on the strengths of that particular case. 

Wrongful death claims arise when another person’s negligence or wrongful act causes the death of another. Wrongful death lawsuits operate under the theory that someone’s negligent or otherwise wrongful conduct caused another to die, thereby depriving the beneficiaries of that person’s estate to suffer a loss. Under Ohio law, a claim for wrongful death must be brought by the personal representative of the estate of the deceased person, for the benefit of certain beneficiaries of the deceased’s estate. 

DAMAGES

Ohio law recognizes certain damages that can be recovered by a deceased person’s estate in a wrongful death claim. The collectible damages are the following: 

• Loss of companionship 
• Mental anguish 
• Past medical expenses 
• Loss of income 
• Funeral and burial expenses 
• Loss of consortium 
• Loss of support 
• Loss of benefits (pension, medical coverage, etc.) 
• Loss of care 
• General damages 
• Punitive or exemplary damages 

It is important that you contact our office soon after the death of your family member. Insurance companies work diligently to defend these negligence claims, and the value of your wrongful death lawsuit depends on you retaining an experienced wrongful death attorney to fight for your rights. Our office provides a no-cost consultation so that you have the opportunity to meet us and ask us questions before hiring us. If you hire Zychowicz Law LLC, to represent you in a wrongful death claim you will have dedicated, an experienced law firm working on your behalf. 

HOW DO I PAY FOR A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT?

Paying for the legal services of the highly experienced wrongful death lawyers at Zychowicz Law LLC, is easy because we work on a contingency basis. You will not have to write any checks at all. We receive a fee at the end of the lawsuit as a percentage of the settlement or verdict. And if we don’t win and recover for you, then you pay nothing. 

Call us today at 419-842-1166. We can answer all of your questions and help you recover from the tragic loss of a loved one.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries occur where a person’s jawbone meets the skull’s temporal bones. This is a critical area for maintaining normal functions, as it controls movement associated with speaking and chewing.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) refer to problems associated with the facial muscles that control the TMJ. Symptoms of a TMJ or TMD injury include: 

• Pain, tenderness or persistent aching around the ears or jaw area 
• Problems chewing, talking or yawning 
• A locking sensation or clicking sound around the jaw area 
• Misaligned or uneven biting 

Either a doctor or a dentist may order tests to diagnose a TMJ injury; these tests typically include MRIs, CT scans or X-rays. Treatment options include prescription medication such as painkillers and muscle relaxants, steroid injections, movement/bite therapy (including a bite guard) and reparatory surgery or dental treatments. TMJ and TMD injuries can result from auto accidents that cause jarring or blows to the head, especially the jaw area. The effects of these injuries can range from dealing with nagging pain to making serious life changes, such as not eating solid foods. 

If you are suffering from this type of injury as the result of an auto accident, you may be eligible for compensation. For help now, call Zychowicz Law LLC, at 419-842-1166. The call and the advice are free.