Motor vehicle collisions are recognized as a major cause of concussion injuries and brain injuries. Every year, over 4 million people are injured seriously enough to require medical attention. Annually, nearly 38,000 deaths result from car accidents.
The victims of car accidents suffer a concussion injury in 27% of the cases. One study showed that over 60% of people seeking legal help regarding a car accident have suffered a concussion injury-and over 80% have not sought medical attention prior to seeking an attorney.
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury. 90% of traumatic brain injuries are concussions. Concussions are sometimes called “mild” traumatic brain injuries there is nothing mild about many concussions that result in significant long-term disabilities.
Concussion injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions are a different “breed of cat”. The forces of a motor vehicle collision are significantly different and greater than sports-related concussions.
The most common type of motor vehicle collision is the “rear-ender” where the victim’s vehicle is struck from behind. This causes an “acceleration/deceleration” biomechanical model which biomechanical experts recognize as “biphasic”. In the acceleration phase, the vehicle is violently pushed forward with the seat pushing the trunk forward while restrained by the shoulder and lap belt. The neck and head are not so restrained except by the headrest which is often improperly adjusted and the head actually goes backward above the headrest.
Then comes the second phase where the body rebounds forward. As it does so, the “three-point” restraint system in most automobiles restrains only the left shoulder of the driver or the right shoulder of the passenger, causing a dramatic “rotation”. It is well known that the brain is more susceptible to rotational forces which cause greater injury. It is quite common for the driver to have more damage to the ??? neck and the passenger to the ??? neck. In many cases, the driver’s head and neck were turned, looking at the rearview mirror or watching for traffic, aggravating the effect of the forces. Experts have called this phenomenon the “complex interplay of seat design, occupant mass, occupation position, and vehicle dynamics”. Centeno, Minor Impact Soft Tissue Injury, Pain Res Manage, Vol 10(2), pp. 71-4 (2005) See Panjabi, Biomechanics of Whiplash Injury, Orthopade, 1996 27(12):81-9; Foreman, Whiplash Injuries: The Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration Syndrome,
Modern passenger vehicles are equipped with “3-point” shoulder and lap belts. Occupants are restrained about the waist and only one shoulder. As the body is forcefully tossed forward, only the driver’s left shoulder is restrained and only the front seat passenger’s right shoulder is restrained. The result is a rotational force as the shoulder belt restrains. Rotational forces are well known to cause greater concussion injuries.
They are, on average, younger and more physically fit. They approach the event expecting traumatic forces and are usually mentally prepared for the trauma. Their concussions don’t “fly under the radar” and get overlooked. Their concussions are typically witnessed by a large number of teammates, coaches and fans in the stands. Both they and their coaches, trainers, and parents have some degree of knowledge regarding concussion injuries. State laws require a concussion assessment before “return to play.”
The concussion injury in most sporting events is the only injury. Car accident victims have a distinct disadvantage in that they typically suffer other physical injuries in addition to the concussion which tend to draw the focus on those injuries and the resulting pain tends to cause neglect of the concussion.
80% of the victims of car accidents do not receive medical care or receive medical care that overlooks the concussion injury. The Concussion Injury Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team have extensive training and experience in the initial assessment of concussion injuries. They know the health care providers that are competent in the assessment and treatment of concussion injuries.
Studies show that a large number of the occupants of motor vehicles that have been involved in moderate to severe collisions suffer a concussion injury. Many do not understand that they have suffered a concussion and do not seek medical attention. The Minnesota Concussion Injury Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team have special skills and experience in bringing justice to the victims of overlooked concussion injuries.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian car accidents, and bicycle accidents. It has many years of experience in workers’ compensation, product liability, and medical malpractice cases.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has extensive experience with concussion injuries, traumatic brain injuries, neck and back injuries, whiplash injuries, broken bones, injured joint injuries (knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, ankle, spinal), amputation injuries, and vision and eye injuries.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has offices throughout the State of Minnesota. Its primary location is at Ridgedale Office Center in Minnetonka, near the intersection of I394 and I494. The offices are handicap accessible with ample parking.
The firm offers contingent fee agreements (You don’t pay lawyers fees until you collect them, and then only as a percentage of the settlement). It also offers home and hospital visits to clients whose injuries present difficulty in coming to the office.
The Schmidt Salita Law Team has locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Osseo, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Blaine, Shoreview, Woodbury, Falcon Heights, Columbia Park, Stillwater, Hastings, Inver Grove, Cottage Grove, South St. Paul, Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville, Savage, Shakopee, Richfield, Bloomington, Chaska, Chanhassen, Edina, Eden Prairie, and Hopkins.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Dean M. Salita, with more than 30 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
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