With spring break time upon us, Miami can get pretty crowded with out-of-state college students looking to enjoy the Florida sun! Miami car accidents every day, and right now, it is essential to be more careful. In 2021, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles* reported that 103,626 total crashes took place; this was when traveling was minuscule. That is about 284 car accidents per day in the Miami-Dade and Broward county areas. This number includes all car accidents, pedestrian accidents, alcohol-related, and motorcycle accidents.
Injuries From Miami Car Accidents
Common injuries after being involved in a Miami car accident include traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, back injuries, broken bones, and cuts and scrapes. These types of damages can happen to you whether you are a pedestrian, a passenger, on a motorcycle, or the driver.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Most commonly, brain injuries are considered closed injury or concussion, meaning the skin and bone of the head remains intact. Concussions, depending on severity, can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical attention after a car accident.
It would be best if you were on the lookout for these symptoms of concussions:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Loss of consciousness
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Mood swings
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
Whiplash
Whiplash is classified as a soft tissue injury, and these injuries affect the body’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons. When whiplash occurs, it causes the connective tissue in the neck and upper back to be stretched suddenly. It often goes away on its own, but ice packs and painkillers can treat the symptoms at home.
Whiplash symptoms include:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Inability to turn your head
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Blurred vision
In order to go after the at-fault driver for injuries, you need to get a doctor to assess and diagnose you with whiplash. Do not assume that just because whiplash goes away on its own means, you cannot claim compensation for this injury. Whiplash can lead to lost wages as it can be difficult to perform job requirements with the inability to turn your head in all directions.
Back Injuries
The most common back injuries from car accidents are spinal cord-related injuries. There are four types of spinal cord injuries that you can experience after a Miami car accident.
- Thoracic Spine Injuries
- This is the upper part of the spine that connects to the ribs and chest area. Injuries to this section of the spine are often more severe as they are responsible for many vital functions. Which means they may result in permanent nerve damage as well.
- Lumbar Spine Injuries
- This is the lower part of the spine that is responsible for stability. If the muscles or ligaments are damaged, the pain can be very intense in this area. This will lead to limited mobility and the inability to perform daily activities.
- Herniated Discs
- These happen when the discs of cartilage between the vertebrae of the spine become displaced, causing pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord. Sharp pain or numbness in the legs are symptoms of herniated discs.
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Direct spinal cord injuries can lead to very severe injuries. If the spinal cord is damaged, you can suffer from partial or total paralysis, numbness, loss of bodily functions, blood clots, and spinal fluid leaks depending on the injury.
Broken Bones
Broken bones and other internal injuries, like bruising, can also occur from a Miami car accident. If you suffer from broken ribs, there isn’t much doctors can do as rib injuries heal independently. However, it is essential to know the warning signs of broken ribs, having trouble breathing, and discomfort when breathing. Broken ribs can puncture internal organs, like the lungs, heart, or liver, which can cause serious, even life-threatening, issues. That is why it’s crucial to seek medical attention if you experience any symptoms of broken ribs.
Cuts and Scrapes
Whatever the severity of the Miami car accident you find yourself involved in, cuts, scrapes, and bruising are injuries you are more likely to suffer from. When cleaning lacerations from broken glass, carefully make sure no remaining pieces are stuck inside the wounds. If the cuts are deep enough, stitches may be needed for proper healing. If you are a pedestrian or motorcyclist, road rash is a possible injury you are more likely to endure. Road rash is a friction wound that can be very painful. Usually, road rash takes about two weeks to heal, but more severe types of road rash can leave a hypertrophic scar. These more severe road rash conditions will need dermabrasion, skin grafting, or a free flap procedure to heal them. Being hit at high speeds, over 30 MPH, can send you several feet scraping against the pavement, leading to more severe road rash injuries.
Contact Our Miami Car Accident Lawyer
If you find yourself a victim in a Miami car accident either as a driver, pedestrian, passenger, or motorcyclist, our Steinger, Greene & Feiner personal injury attorneys are here to fight for your compensation every step of the way. Car accidents happen every day in the Miami-Dade and Broward county areas, it is important to know you are not alone. Your main priority should be recovering from your injuries while it’s our main priority to make sure you are totally compensated for all your damages.
* Source: Traffic Crash Facts
About the Author
Michael Feiner
Michael A. Feiner is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Steinger, Greene & Feiner. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001, Michael has devoted his practice to representing plaintiffs throughout Florida in various tort and strict liability cases and has successfully litigated cases against national insurance companies, large public companies, and governmental agencies, resulting in tens of millions of dollars for his clients.
He has handled all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of plaintiffs, including automobile negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, and sexual harassment. Michael’s product liability case against Microsoft, as well as his representation of victims of sexual harassment and abuse by physicians, has garnered him important media attention at both the local and national levels.
Michael is an experienced trial lawyer and successfully argued an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In the reported decision Ortlieb v. Butts, 849 So.2d 1165 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), Michael persuaded the Fourth District Court of Appeal that a directed verdict on liability was appropriate where the defendant did not rebut the presumption of negligence of a rear driver in a rear-end collision.
Michael Feiner
Michael A. Feiner is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Steinger, Greene & Feiner. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001, Michael has devoted his practice to representing plaintiffs throughout Florida in various tort and strict liability cases and has successfully litigated cases against national insurance companies, large public companies, and governmental agencies, resulting in tens of millions of dollars for his clients. He has handled all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of plaintiffs, including automobile negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, product liability, dog bites, and sexual harassment. Michael’s product liability case against Microsoft, as well as his representation of victims of sexual harassment and abuse by physicians, has garnered him important media attention at both the local and national levels. Michael is an experienced trial lawyer and successfully argued an appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. In the reported decision Ortlieb v. Butts, 849 So.2d 1165 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), Michael persuaded the Fourth District Court of Appeal that a directed verdict on liability was appropriate where the defendant did not rebut the presumption of negligence of a rear driver in a rear-end collision.