Serious Neck Injury from a Car Accident?

If you have experienced neck pain following a car accident you are not alone. You may be wondering if your neck pain will get better or if you should see a doctor. This is a common scenario and one that requires your immediate attention. 

It is equally important that you do not speak with the insurance company from the other driver or sign any agreements. You should first speak with an experienced car accident attorney and follow up with your own physician. You should never underestimate a neck injury from a car accident. 

Many Types of Neck Injuries 

There are many types of neck injuries that can affect your muscles, bones, nerves, ligaments, tendons, veins, arteries and blood vessels. Common examples of serious neck injuries that occur from car accidents include:

• Whiplash – this is the most common type of neck injury from car accidents which can injure ligaments, muscles, nerves, neck tissue, discs and bones in the spine.

• Neck strain – some neck strains may be mild and get better over time, although others may cause more serious injury.

• Soft tissue injury – an injury that does not involve bone is a soft tissue injury, such as whiplash and neck strain. An auto accident may cause other types of soft tissue damage in and around the neck.

• Rhabdomyolysis – this is a condition that occurs when a breakdown of muscle tissue releases myoglobin, a protein that stores oxygen, into the bloodstream. Too much myoglobin in your blood could cause kidney failure and serious or fatal injury to internal organs. This may set in 24 to 72 hours following an injury.

• Injured discs - injury to your vertebrae can cause spinal discs to rupture or herniate, which may lead to serious problems in the neck and elsewhere in the body.

• Arterial dissection – crucial arteries run through the neck which allows blood flow between your heart and brain. Tears or dissection of these arteries due to a forceful impact can lead to serious injuries such as heart attack, stroke, blood clots or life-threatening injuries.

• Brain damage – brain damage can occur due to serious cervical spine injuries such arterial dissection, whiplash, injury to the head or any spinal cord injury.

These are just some examples of the many neck injuries that can occur from a car accident. If you have experienced neck pain following a car accident, please seek medical attention and contact an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.

Schiff & Associates: Experienced Neck Injury Lawyers
Schiff & Associates has over 35 years of experience representing our community in Ohio in serious injury, soft-tissue injury, neck and personal injury claims. We offer an experienced team of lawyers and investigators to fight for the settlement you deserve following any personal injury, car or truck accident. Take any neck injury seriously by contacting your physician and Schiff & Associates today. 

Schiff & Associates is a personal injury attorney in Ohio with experience in car and truck accidents, personal injury and wrongful death. We fight for the maximum settlement you deserve under the law. Contact us to speak with a neck injury attorney now and let us help with your financial recovery so you can focus on your physical recovery.

Why Semi-Truck Accidents Require Legal Representation

An accident with a semi-truck is quite different from an automobile accident involving passenger vehicles and SUVs. A semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 lbs., whereas an SUV may weigh about 5,000 lbs. and the typical passenger vehicle might weigh 3,000 lbs. Accidents with semis and commercial trucks cause serious damage and are more complex in many ways:

• Severity of damages

• Instances of fatalities

• Magnitude of injuries

• Federal and state regulations

• Number of parties involved

• Number of insurance companies involved

If you have been injured in an accident with a truck it is important that you speak with an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Truck accident cases are complex and risky to manage yourself. An experienced truck accident lawyer with experience in negotiation and litigating tractor-trailer accidents is your best chance of recovering the settlement you deserve. 

Truck Accident Attorney Helps Determine Who Should Pay

Your truck accident attorney will help to determine who should pay in cases of negligence and violation of federal regulations. The trucking company and its employees are responsible to prevent:

• Driver fatigue

• Excessive speed

• Lane drifting

• Wide angle turns

• Improperly pulling over on the side of the road

• Missing or inadequate reflective markings

All of these things can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. An automobile accident attorney with experience in tractor-trailer accidents will help to determine who should be financially and legally responsible. 

Schiff & Associates for Automobile and Truck Accidents

Schiff & Associates has been helping members of our Ohio community since 1982, recovering the maximum amount of compensation you deserve under the law. We fight for your rights in car accident injuries, truck accidents, wrongful death and personal injury with a team of skilled professionals. We employ a team of lawyers skilled in negotiation and litigation, investigators and accountants to provide the best legal team for your claim. 

Our investigators know how to hold truck drivers and trucking companies responsible in cases of negligence, uncovering evidence to prove your claim. We fight for your rights to full compensation for all injuries and damages suffered in all car or truck accidents. 

Schiff & Associates offers a free initial case consultation to help you understand what your case may be worth. We have a positive track record for over 35 years of successfully recovering the compensation you deserve. We look forward to hearing from you to discuss your case and help you recover full compensation for your car or truck accident.

What to Look for When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Finding the right personal injury lawyer to represent you is a big decision and can be confusing if you do not know exactly what to look for. It can be hard to know where to begin and how to find the attorney that brings the qualities and skillset that matter most to you. 

Here are some considerations when searching for the best personal injury lawyer to represent your claim. Be sure that your injury attorney offers the following:

• Easy to get ahold of

• Answers your questions promptly

• Easy to talk to with good communication skills

• Professional and respectful

• Is respected in the legal community, by other attorneys and judges

• Shows great attention to detail

• Shows an impressive track record

• Experience in your type of claim

• Shows genuine concern for your best interests

• Gives your case the attention you deserve

• Recognized for excellence in the legal industry

These are all important qualities to look for when hiring a personal injury attorney to represent your interests. Think about what is most important to you such as testimonials or case results. Evaluating the criteria that is important to you and your claim will give you confidence in your decision. 

Schiff & Associates: Personal Injury Lawyers Since 1982

The staff at Schiff & Associates have provided clients with quality legal representation in personal injury cases since 1982. We fight for the results you deserve in personal injury, car accident claims, soft tissue, serious injury, wrongful death and workmen compensation claims. Our team has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for members of our Ohio community. 

The legal team at Schiff & Associates includes attorneys who focus solely on negotiating settlements with insurance companies prior to litigation as well as lawyers who focus on litigation of catastrophic injury cases. We offer a combined skillset that of a powerful legal team that genuinely cares about you and fights for your rights. 

Schiff & Associates is committed to helping our clients recover the full amount of compensation they deserve in serious injury and wrongful death cases. We aggressively pursue the full amount entitled to you under the law. Contact us with any questions and to ensure you receive a fair settlement of your personal injury claim.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Accident Claims

The term “mild traumatic brain injury” is interchangeable with “concussion”, sometimes referred to as mTBI by physicians. The designation as mild is of no comfort to anyone who has experienced a concussion as a result of a traumatic injury or car accident. This only means that the injury may improve over time, although symptoms of a concussion can last for weeks, months or even longer causing serious impact to the quality of one’s life. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, motor vehicle accidents are the 2nd leading cause of all TBI-related hospitalizations, 2nd only to falls. Pedestrians, bicycle and motorcycle riders are at an increased risk of suffering a concussion in an accident. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. 

Symptoms of a Concussion

When a person experiences a concussion, they will experience some or all of the following symptoms?

• Headaches

• Blurred vision

• Irritability

• Nausea and vomiting

• Dizziness and loss of balance

• Ringing in the ears

• Sensitivity to light and noise

• Slurred speech

• Sleepiness (especially in children)

• Mental confusion and difficulty concentrating

• Listlessness and changes in behavior (again, especially in children)

A victim of a concussion may lose consciousness briefly and could find it difficult to remember all the details prior to the injury. Some people may experience symptoms within hours or days following an accident and about one-third of accident victims who experience a concussion will still have symptoms three months after the injury. Long-term constant headaches and other symptoms make it difficult for people to maintain their current job or for students to study. 

Insurance Settlements for Concussion Injuries

The fact that mild traumatic brain injuries do not cause structural or visible damage can make it more difficult for victims to be taken seriously and to receive just compensation. It is imperative that you partner with an experienced and understanding personal injury attorney to attest to your injuries. A skilled accident attorney will present the medical evidence needed to get you the compensation you deserve. 

Schiff & Associates has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for accident victims in our Ohio community for more than 35 years. We recover the maximum compensation allowed under the law for victims of personal and automobile accident injuries. Contact us to speak with an experienced and compassionate personal injury lawyer.

7-Step Guide: What to Do After a Car Accident

The chaos that follows a car accident can make it very difficult for people to think clearly. It is important to remember to stay calm if you are involved in an automobile accident. Here are 7 steps you should follow if involved in a car accident to protect yourself and a personal injury claim:

1) Move to Safety, Check for Injuries

The first thing to do is to get to a safe area. If your vehicle is out in traffic, pull off to the side of the road if possible and use your hazard lights to warn other motorists. If it is unsafe to leave your vehicle, stay in your car with your seatbelt on. 

2) Make a Police Report

A police report will help to document all the facts and determine the driver at fault. When police are visible at the scene of a crash it helps everyone to stay calm. 

3) Collect the Other Driver’s Information

Exchange driver’s license and insurance information with the other driver but avoid making any comments about who is to blame. You do not want to admit fault until you’ve had a chance to process the details of the accident and speak with a car accident attorney. 

4) Take Photos and Notes of the Accident

Take photos of the accident with your phone if you are able, this helps to document details you may forget. Jot down any notes you remember as it can be difficult to remember the details and prove what happened after the fact. Take photos of both vehicles, damages, road conditions and markings. 

5) Speak with Your Insurance Company 

Speak with your auto insurance company as soon as possible. Do not talk with the other driver’s insurance company until you have spoken to your own attorney. Your insurance provider will work directly with the other insurance company on your behalf. 

6) See Your Doctor and Document All Injuries

See your doctor right away about any discomfort, stiffness, pain, numbness or dizziness you experience. Some injuries are not evident right away and soft-tissue damages can cause serious injuries for the long-term. Be sure to follow all medical advice and keep track of all medical bills and lost wages. 

7) Protect Your Rights

Your insurance provider will help to make sure that you understand your obligations and will protect your rights. Do not accept any payment or claim settlement without first talking with your own accident attorney. 

Schiff & Associates is dedicated to helping our clients receive the maximum amount of compensation they deserve. We protect your rights in personal injury and wrongful death cases in Ohio. Contact us to speak with an experienced attorney to see what your case is worth.

Distracted Driving Car Accident Lawyer in Ohio

Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of car accidents across the country and the statistics are alarming. Distracted driving is any activity that is considered non-driving with the potential to increase the risk of an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10.3% of all fatal crashes in the United States were due to distracted driving, killing 3,196 people. In the state of Ohio, 13,997 people crashed an automobile in 2017 due to distracted driving resulting in 55 deaths. 

Distracted driving accidents are completely preventable. Texting while driving is banned in 47 U.S. states and Ohio bans the use of any electronic wireless communication devices for drivers under the age of 18. Distractions may be:

• Cognitive (not paying attention or thinking about something other than driving)

• Manual (taking your hands off the wheel)

• Visual (taking your eyes off the road)

Since texting involves all three types of distractions it is extremely dangerous. Some studies show that 1 in 4 teens still text while driving. The most common types of distractions while driving include:

• Not paying attention, lost in thought

• Using a cell phone for texting, talking, social media, emails, etc…

• Distracted by an event or object outside of the vehicle

• Distractions by passengers within the vehicle

• Using a device in the car other than a cell phone

• Eating or drinking while driving

• Adjusting the vehicle’s radio controls

• Adjusting the vehicle’s climate controls

• Smoking while driving

The statistics are alarming. Most people will become momentarily distracted while driving, it only takes a second for this to cause serious consequences. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, contact the top car accident attorney in Ohio. 

Schiff & Associates Top Car Accident Lawyer in Ohio

Schiff & Associates is a top rated car accident lawyer in Ohio with over 35 years of getting our clients the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured in a car accident or are the victim of any personal injury due to the negligence of another, you are entitled to the maximum compensation due under the law. 

Schiff & Associates is experienced in personal injury, car accidents and wrongful death cases, getting our clients the compensation they deserve. We fight for your rights to get the maximum settlement due under the law. Contact us to speak with an attorney and find out what your car accident case is worth.