The Dangers of Blunt Force Trauma in Illinois Car Accidents

 Posted on November 13, 2024 in Personal Injury

Car accidents can produce various injuries, ranging from minor to fatal. Blunt trauma causes the most severe injuries in these collisions, but many people do not fully understand the term and how significantly it can affect those involved in pedestrian and vehicle crashes. A recent news story about a fatality in Bloomington highlights the impacts of blunt force injuries sustained in an auto collision.

How do car accidents cause blunt force trauma? How do I know if I am eligible for compensation? A skilled Bloomington, IL lawyer from Kanoski Bresney can investigate your accident, confirm that you qualify for compensation, and help you get as much as you deserve.

What Is Blunt Force Trauma?

Blunt force trauma occurs when an external object or surface strikes a body but does not pierce the skin. When most people think about blunt force trauma, they envision someone being hit with a hard object like a baseball bat. While this is one possibility, blunt trauma can also occur when a person’s body moves and strikes an object, like what can happen in a car accident.

Whether a driver or passenger, vehicle occupants may hit windows, dashboards, or other vehicle structures. Loose objects in the car can strike victims, and impact forces can push bodies against seatbelts and airbags. Pedestrians experience at least three impacts, and each can cause additional injuries or worsen previous wounds.

Blunt impact injuries from car crashes, classified as abrasions, contusions, fractures, or lacerations, may be:

• Abdominal injuries, including internal bleeding, organ damage, and ruptures

• Chest injuries, which may result from seatbelt use, such as lung trauma, cardiac contusions, and broken ribs  

• Head injuries, including skull and jaw fractures, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and dental trauma

• Spinal cord injuries, such as herniated discs, fractures, and partial or total paralysis

Because the skin may remain unbroken, it is sometimes not visually apparent that victims are suffering from blunt force injuries. Whether you were involved in a motor vehicle collision or another type of incident and your body was directly impacted, you should always accept or seek a medical evaluation. Trained professionals can diagnose and treat internal injuries, possibly saving your life.

Does My Accident Qualify for Compensation?

Car accidents happen for various reasons, and most are caused by negligent driver errors. Examples include distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, improper merging, and tailgating.

In Illinois, the state’s modified comparative negligence law governs eligibility for compensation and determines how much you can receive. If you are less than 51 percent at fault for your accident, you can collect payment from other at-fault parties. However, your eligible damages will be reduced proportionally. For instance, if you are 15 percent responsible for your car crash, the most you could receive is 85 percent of your total damages.

Your damages might include:

• Property damage

• Current and future medical expenses and lost income

• Ongoing care

• Pain and suffering

• Other losses that diminish your quality of life

If your loved one died as a result of a car accident, you may be eligible for payment through a wrongful death claim. Although you may qualify, getting a reasonable amount of compensation is usually challenging without the assistance of a competent personal injury lawyer.

Call a Respected Springfield, IL Car Accident Lawyer Today

When someone else’s negligence injures you, Kanoski Bresney can help you hold the at-fault party accountable. Call 888-826-8682 to schedule your free consultation with our effective Champaign, IL personal injury attorneys.