Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on August 26, 2015
Multiple Victims Suffer Serious Injuries after Two-Car Accident in Cookeville
An accident involving two vehicles on Highway 56 in Putnam County Tuesday caused five people to suffer serious injuries that required treatment and hospitalization.
According to a report by the Herald-Citizen, the accident occurred around 3 p.m. near Wildwood Market. When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, they found a pick-up truck on its side with damage to its front end and two people trapped inside the vehicle. The victims had to be extricated from the vehicle by Putnam County Emergency Medical Services workers.
Helicopter ambulances were used to transport two victims to local hospitals for treatment—one was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and another victim was transported first to Cookeville Regional Medical Center, and then to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Two other victims in the accident, including one juvenile, were transported via ground ambulance to Cookeville Regional Medical Center, with a fifth victim being transported to Vanderbilt for medical treatment.
Emergency departments that responded to the accident scene included Putnam County EMS, Jackson County Rescue Squads, Putnam County Fire, Sheriff’s, and Police Departments, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
What Serious Injuries are Most Common in Auto Accidents?
Whether they occur at high, moderate, or low speeds, car accidents have the potential to cause drivers and passengers to suffer serious injuries that result in pain, disability, and reduced quality of life. Some of the most common types of serious injuries we see in our practice include:
Seat belts and airbags are highly effective at keeping victims restrained during accidents and reducing the impact of collisions, but the sheer amount of force generated during accidents can cause victims to suffer serious head and neck injuries. Whiplash is a common condition caused by car accidents when a victim’s neck is subject to high amounts of force and pressure generated during a car accident. In addition, victims can also suffer head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries, from striking their heads on airbags, seats, dashboards, and steering wheels.
The entire skeletal system is also at high risk of traumatic injuries during car accidents. Bones in the face, ribcage, back, arms, and legs—including the femur—are all vulnerable to simple and compound fractures. Severe injuries and broken bones can even penetrate the skin and require immediate surgery and medical intervention to prevent the victim from going into shock or requiring amputation of the affected limb or body part.
In addition to high levels force generated during auto accidents, victims also face the risk of suffering serious cuts and lacerations due to exposure to broken glass. Although modern vehicles use glass that’s designed to break into hundreds of small pieces, each individual shard of glass is still capable of causing deep cuts and lacerations in victims’ bodies that can cause profuse bleeding and even nerve damage. Victims who suffer cuts and lacerations may require a large number of stitches and develop significant scarring after the accident.
After auto accidents, vehicles are at-risk of catching on fire—especially when there is serious damage to the engine or fuel tank. Victims who are trapped inside vehicles are at high risk of suffering burn injuries if accidents cause fires. Serious car fires can quickly become life-threatening due to the risk of severe burns and smoke inhalation.
These are just a few of the common serious injuries that victims can suffer during car accidents. At Matt Hardin Law, our Cookeville car accident attorneys know that no two car accidents are alike, and no two victims will have the exact same injuries. But regardless of the injuries that victims suffer, one thing remains the same: innocent drivers and passengers shouldn’t have to pay for their own accident-related expenses.
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, our legal team may be able to help you get full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repair costs, and more. To find out how we can put our 20 years of experience to work for you, just dial (931) 754-1188 or fill out a free online form.
