Whether you have been involved in a seemingly minor fender bender, or a more serious auto accident, you may have suffered significant injuries. Traumatic brain damage is one of the most common accident injuries that can occur. According to Brainline.org, out of the 1.7 million people who suffer from a traumatic brain injury each year, approximately 17.3 percent are caused by motor vehicle accidents. This number, however, does not account for injuries that go undetected and undiagnosed.

Whiplash can occur when you or the occupants of your vehicle experience a sudden forceful impact. Since the brain is suspended within the skull cavity, a jolt can cause it to bounce into the hard skull bone. As a result, the brain tissue can become bruised, swollen and may begin to bleed. Depending on how severe the injury is, you may see the symptoms of whiplash immediately. Yet, some incidents of brain injuries may take weeks, months or even years to show up.

The symptoms of whiplash may also vary depending on where the brain is damaged. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that headaches, dizziness, confusion and memory problems are common indicators of brain injuries sustained from a whiplash.

If you have been involved in any type of car accident, you may want to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The quicker a brain injury is discovered and diagnosed, the faster you can begin treatment.  Treatment increases your odds of fully recovering and often consists of occupational therapy, speech therapy and other forms of rehabilitation. 

This information is intended to educate and should not be used as legal advice.

It’s no surprise that the number of people who have been injured or killed in distracted driving accidents has remained high throughout the years, as the majority of Americans are cellphone owners. According to Distraction.gov, more than 660,000 people text or talk on cellphones while driving at any given moment during the day. The latest form of distracted driving, however, may put even more lives in danger. In addition to composing texts and updating social media statuses, some drivers in Tennessee and across the country take selfies and post them while behind the wheel.

In fact, a CNN News report found a surprising number of posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter listed under the hashtags #drivingselfie and #drivingtowork. While some of the pictures may have been taken when the driver was stopped in traffic or at a stop light, the degree of danger involved in taking a selfie while driving is significant.

Drivers must use their hands, eyes and concentration in order to compose a text, or post a status update. However, taking a selfie increases the level of danger even more. Not only must the driver pull up the app, but he or she must pose while holding the phone at the best angle and snapping the perfect picture. Furthermore, the driver may choose to add a caption and continue to post the picture, all while driving.  During this time of distraction, drivers are less likely to see and respond to hazardous situations, such as pedestrian crossings, objects or animals in the road or other reckless drivers. 

While you may try to get at least eight hours of sleep every night, you could be one of the many Americans who fail to wake up each morning fully rested. When you hop behind the wheel of your vehicle, you may not think twice about being too tired to drive. The truth is, drowsy driving is a serious problem in Tennessee and across the country. Although obtaining an accurate number of how many car accidents, injuries and deaths involve drowsy drivers is nearly impossible, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that at least 846 people were killed in 2014 as a result of drowsy motorists.

According to the NHTSA, there are certain groups of people who are at greater risk of causing a drowsy driving accident. These include the following:

•          Intoxicated drivers
•          Motorists who are taking prescription or recreational drugs
•          People suffering from sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy, insomnia and sleep apnea
•          People who work overnight or work other irregular hours

Researchers are developing and testing new technology that could help warn drivers if they are falling asleep and alert them to wake up. This technology was tested on truckers who were asked to drive tractor trailers equipped with the warning system. The system detected when truckers’ eyes closed beyond a certain point using near-infrared technology, and then sounded an alarm to rouse them. The study showed that the driving system had a positive impact on the safety of truck drivers, and that truckers who used the technology were able to drive more coherently. 

People who have been involved in serious auto accidents in Knoxville and across the state know that these collisions can cause significant physical and emotional injuries. The number of people who are killed and injured in catastrophic motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. continues to climb, according to an article published in Newsweek.

Approximately 4.4 million people across the nation were injured in car accidents and an estimated 38,300 people died from these collisions in 2015, according to the National Safety Council. Researchers from the NSC analyzed auto-injury and fatality data collected throughout the years and compared it to car accident injuries and deaths recorded in 2015. These statistics show a substantial increase from prior years.

More than half of those injuries were labeled as serious, meaning that they required medical attention. After comparing a period of six months from 2014 to the same period in 2015, researchers found that the rate of serious injuries increased by 30 percent.

Some people correlate this rise in injuries and deaths to an increase in the number of people driving to and from work. The healthier economy, and lower gas prices in 2015, also means that people may have more money to spend on traveling long distances for vacation. With more people on the road, the risk of catastrophic car accidents grows as well. Distraction.gov also indicates that more people are using their cellphones while driving, which can also increase the likelihood of being involved in a deadly collision. In 2014, 431,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents alone. 

Whether you have been involved in a minor fender bender or a serious car accident, the moments following the collision can be stressful and overwhelming. You may have received extensive damage to your vehicle or could suffer from injuries as a result of another person’s negligent behavior. It is crucial that you take the right steps to ensure that you will be fairly compensated for your injuries, property damage and emotional trauma that often stems from a catastrophic accident.

According to State Farm, you should first make sure that everyone is safe and out of harm’s way. In some cases, you may need to move the vehicles involved in the accident out of traffic. However, this may not always be an option. Accident victims should call law enforcement as soon as possible and let them know if anyone was injured in the accident.

It is important to document the accident scene. If possible, take pictures with your cellphone and write down a full account of what happened. Be sure to get the names, contact information, licenses and insurance information from everyone involved in the accident. You may even be able to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision. When speaking with law enforcement officers and insurance agents, only state the facts of what occurred. Since the aftermath of an accident can be extremely chaotic, you don’t want to inadvertently add details to the story that may complicate matters in the future.

This information is intended to educate and should not be taken as legal advice.