Merging accidents on busy freeways and highways are common and can cause serious injuries such as collapsed lungs. These sorts of injuries happen when a driver or passenger in a vehicle is thrown forwards and the impact from a structure in the car fractures a rib, resulting in a collapsed or punctured lung. A collapsed lung injury can equally be caused by a hard object forced into the chest, or by pieces of shattered windshield penetrating the lung, causing it to collapse. Unfortunately, the trauma caused by a collapsed lung injury often results in death, unless the victim can be extricated as fast as possible and taken to a nearby hospital for immediate surgery.
The accident victim, or the family of someone who has died from a collapsed lung injury, may be entitled to obtain compensation if there is proof that it was caused by the negligent driving of a merging driver.
Cost of a Collapsed Lung Injury Caused by a Merging Accident
Collapsed lung injuries are catastrophic injuries and require extensive surgery. The final cost of a collapsed lung injury treatment program could easily be thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars. The full cost of such an injury is not just the cost of medical treatment and surgery as there will be loss of earnings over a considerable time period, as well as an emotional cost due to the trauma and stress of a serious, life threatening injury.
A personal injury lawyer will carefully calculate the full cost of such an injury, taking into consideration the possible long term consequences. The calculation may need the use of a medical expert and / or a trauma specialist who has the experience to evaluate the effects of such an injury.
Filing a Claim After a Collapsed Lung Injury from a Merging Accident
If you decide to file a personal injury claim after a merging accident, you should be aware that it is not likely to be successful unless you have sufficient evidence that it was caused by negligence. The merging driver may have been drunk, affected by drugs, too tired to make a safe decision, was driving too fast or was distracted at a critical moment by something.
How can you prove that your serious injury was caused by this person’s negligence? The driver’s insurer will be looking for suitable evidence. This could be a combination of a police report made at the crash scene, eye witness statements, photographic evidence taken at the scene, crash reports from car repair yards and medical reports. In addition to proving that the driver you are claiming against was responsible for your injury you will need satisfactory documentation justifying the amount you have claimed, including bills and receipts.
Why You Should Speak With a PI Lawyer
The need for financial compensation after a collapsed lung injury is so important that this sort of claim should not be attempted without effective legal representation. A personal injury lawyer will be much more likely to negotiate a satisfactory and fair payment than you could hope to do so all by yourself.
