Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Truck Wreck on December 11, 2014
Carolina Panthers Starting Quarterback Cam Newton Injured in Truck Accident
Cam Newton, the 25-year-old starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL, was injured in a traffic accident Tuesday when his truck flipped in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.
According to an article by USA Today, Newton was struck by a Buick driven by a 46-year-old South Carolina man, which caused his truck to rollover. Newton suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back and was hospitalized for around 24 hours.
Police say that witnesses agreed with Newton’s account of the events and that he was not at fault for causing the crash. Newton’s status for the rest of the NFL season is in question as he recovers from his injuries.
Tips to Decrease Your Chances of Serious Injury in a Truck Accident
At Matt Hardin Law, our Lebanon truck accident lawyers know that Newton is lucky to have escaped his accident with minor injuries. Too often, car and truck accidents lead to serious injuries that cause permanent pain, disability, and even life-threatening conditions.
We put together this list of tips to help our clients, friends, and members of the community stay safe if they’re ever involved in a truck accident:
One of the primary reasons Newton’s injuries weren’t more serious is because of the fact that he was wearing a seatbelt. Any car accident has the potential to become deadly if the occupants aren’t wearing seatbelts—especially crashes that involve the vehicle flipping or rolling over.
If you’re able to get yourself and your family out of your vehicle, do so as soon as it’s safe. Then, move to the side or shoulder of the road. In the minutes before emergency personnel arrive, drivers who aren’t paying attention may end up striking your vehicle or any other vehicles involved in the wreck. In addition, many vehicles are at risk of catching on fire or becoming filled with smoke after accidents—both of which can be extremely hazardous for anyone still inside.
Even if you feel like you weren’t seriously injured after an auto accident, it’s important to rest and stay calm until emergency responders arrive. Head, neck, and spinal injuries that aren’t yet painful can become much worse with excessive movement, and a condition known as a Hangman’s fracture can cause spinal fractures in car accident victims whose conditions aren’t stabilized in the minutes, hours, or days after the crash.
In addition to getting checked out for possible spinal injuries, it’s also important to get a full check-up by a doctor or hospital staff to rule out internal injuries. Car and truck accidents put enormous force on the body, and that force can lead to internal organs rupturing, bleeding, or failing. Although rare, many car accidents don’t know they’ve suffered internal injuries until it’s too late.
Although our Lebanon truck accident attorneys believe the best way to reduce injuries is to prevent accidents in the first place, we also know that’s not always possible. However, following the tips above can make a difference and help lower your chances of suffering serious injuries in the event of a car or truck accident.
If you were injured in a truck accident in Tennessee that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your accident-related expenses, including your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The legal team at Matt Hardin Law has years of experience building strong claims for innocent victims, and we can help you, too. Just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out our free form today.
