Types of Personal Injuries
A San Antonio personal injury lawyer can help when you’ve been hurt
Getting hurt in a serious accident can change your life forever, and the personal injury lawyers from our San Antonio law firm can make sure those who are responsible are held accountable. At the Herrera Law Firm, our San Antonio personal injury attorneys know your health, well-being, and financial future are all at stake. Take your accident seriously from the start, and don’t miss out on the compensation you’re entitled to. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Types of personal injuries
There are many different types of personal injury accidents. Some of the most common injuries we help clients with include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Burn Injuries
- Injuries Requiring Surgery
- Injuries to Children
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Loss of Sight
- Internal Injuries
- Electrocution Accidents
- Fractures and Broken Bones
- Amputation/Loss of Limbs
Serious injuries can result in piles of unpaid medical bills and lost income. If you were injured in an accident, you may experience non-monetary losses, like pain and suffering and emotional distress. When we handle serious injury cases, we consult with medical professionals who are advocates for victims. We arm ourselves with that knowledge, and we fight to win.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A blow to the head – whether sustained in a car accident, a fall, or other circumstances – may lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI may not always be apparent. It may require time and careful medical analysis. That’s why it’s critical you seek immediate medical attention after your accident.
Our San Antonio personal injury lawyers are committed to helping victims of TBI pursue justice. We have access to crucial resources, including medical professionals and experts who can determine a victim’s long-term needs. A brain injury case may require input from neuropsychologists, life care planners, rehabilitation experts and other specialists.
Symptoms of a brain injury
The following are some signs of a brain injury:
- Concentration difficulties
- Forgetfulness and memory problems
- Difficulty carrying out work responsibilities
- Personality changes or mood swings
Brain injuries are among the most serious types of injuries accident victims sustain in Texas or elsewhere. A traumatic brain injury occurs when a force strikes the head and causes direct physical damage to the brain. For example, head injuries are frequently the result of a car accident in which the occupant’s head strikes an object inside the car, such as a windshield, with great force. Brain injury victims may lose their ability to remember, think clearly or control their emotions. The injuries could result in comas or permanent mental and physical impairment.
Brain injuries generally involve open head injuries and closed head injuries. An open head injury typically involves the penetration of the skull. However, it is not necessary for the skull to fracture or break open for the brain to sustain a TBI. Trauma may occur during a closed head injury, such as a concussion.
Coma
A traumatic brain injury can lead to inalterable unconsciousness, or a coma. Without question, a coma can have a serious impact on the life of the victim and the victim’s family. The losses can range from skyrocketing medical bills to a significant loss of income.
Unfortunately, insurance companies may try to settle a brain injury case involving a coma quickly without considering the long-term impact. A victim’s family may be tempted to accept a quick settlement, but the offer from the insurance company may not come close to matching the losses.
How medical professionals handle brain injuries
Medical professionals typically use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on patients who are unconscious due to brain trauma. The GCS evaluates the degree and severity of a patient’s coma.
The coma scale measures three aspects of the mental condition of the patient: eye, verbal and motor responses. In each category, the victim’s performance is measured on a scale of 1 to 6. The higher the score, the less severe the coma. A score at or above 13 is considered minor, while a score at or below 8 is considered severe.
Patients may emerge from a coma after two to four weeks, but some injury victims may slip into a permanent vegetative state, which may require continual, long-term care. Families of victims may suffer emotionally and financially as their loved ones remain comatose and require extensive therapy.
No matter how a burn injury occurs, these types of injuries are always extremely painful. They may result in disfigurement, lengthy rehabilitation, and possibly even death, which may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. Burn injuries include:
- Injury from fire or flame that occurs as a result of contact with a heat source or fire. This can produce a thermal burn. A car accident or explosion at a factory may cause a thermal burn.
- Chemical burns may be the result of contact with a dangerous product, or inhalation of fumes.
- Scalding injuries may occur due to contact with extremely hot water coming from a tap. Business owners and landlords have a responsibility to maintain a safe water heater temperature (less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit). These types of injuries may result in a premises liability suit.
- Electrical burns can occur when current passes through the body. This type of injury may be the result of a defective product. It also can occur at the workplace as a result of third-party negligence.
Burn injuries by degrees
Burn injuries range in degree, depending on severity:
- First degree – Less serious burns that may include minor pain and redness of the skin
- Second degree – Burns causing blisters and superficial destruction of the dermis
- Third degree – Burns that extend into the deeper tissue, causing destruction of both the epidermis and the dermis
- Fourth degree – Deep tissue burns that completely destroy the skin and sometimes damage muscle, fascia or bone
When determining liability, courts often look at what steps were taken to prevent injuries. This includes adequate smoke detection devices and passable access to stairways. Children are especially susceptible to being overcome or made ill by fumes and smoke, even when the open flame from the fire is not in their immediate presence. Our personal injury attorneys can help you every step of the way after your burn injury. Contact our San Antonio law firm today.
Some serious injuries may require surgery, which has high costs – and introduces additional risks. Improper healing or infection can turn fatal. With so much at stake, it’s important to retain an experienced personal injury lawyer from our San Antonio law firm.
A car accident or a motorcycle wreck may lead to internal injuries, and a victim may end up requiring extensive surgery. Even when a surgical procedure is technically “successful,” the patient may not return to the pre-accident level of health, mobility, or function. If your injury has led you to the operating table, it’s important that you’re aware of all the legal ramifications.
We know that broken bones that require the insertion of metal plates and screws to properly heal can be a complicated operation, particularly if the spinal cord is damaged. Damage to internal organs can become permanent, requiring the removal of that organ, and the victim must carry that condition for a lifetime.
There’s nothing more devastating than an injury to a child. A child’s once promising future could be wiped out in an instant due to someone else’s irresponsible behavior. If your child or infant was injured in an accident caused by someone else, you need to take strong legal action with an experienced and determined personal injury attorney on your side.
How injuries happen to children
Children may slip and fall because a negligent property owner failed to repair or clear a hazard. Children, especially younger children and infants, may get exposed to dangerous toys or defective products, like cribs or car seats.
When you leave your children in the care of other adults, they are responsible for the children’s safety. Unfortunately, injuries sometimes occur while children are in the care of others in places such as:
- Daycare centers
- Nursery schools
- Playgrounds
- Summer camps
- School buses
- Designated children’s play areas, such as those at malls and national franchise restaurants
In other cases, products designed to keep children safe may actually injure them. Toys, cribs and other products commonly used by children may have lead paint or design defects that can cause injuries.
Defective products that can harm children or infants may include:
- Bicycle helmets
- Booster seats
- Car seats
- Paint and wood finishes
- Playground equipment
- Pool floatation devices
- Trampolines
- Window blind cords
Defective children’s products
It happens all too often in Texas and elsewhere around the country. Companies that manufacture products place their “bottom line” over health and safety. They may rush a product to the market without conducting adequate tests. We have seen how products can cause serious injuries to a child or, in some cases, a wrongful death.
Dangerous products can injure a child anywhere: at home, at school or daycare, at a store or an amusement park, or while playing their favorite sport or other activity. Our personal injury attorneys are familiar with the complexities involved in a defective children’s product case and can put their experience to work on your behalf. We have been involved with cases involving dangerous products, including:
- Playpens
- Walkers
- Toys
- Cribs
- Prepared food
- Car seats and booster seats
- Clothing
- Jewelry
- Strollers
- High chairs
- Changing tables
Children living in some older homes may get injured due to lead paint, which can lead to a premises liability claim. Lead paint also has been found on some toys or other products and can cause harm to children. Children have suffered developmental delays and other permanent injuries due to ingesting lead paint. In some cases, defective playground equipment may lead to accidents and injuries, such as fractures, broken bones or traumatic brain injuries.
If your child has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, turn to our family to help yours. The Herrera Law Firm has been representing injured children and adults alike for decades, and we know how to fight – and win – on behalf of our clients.
Spinal cord injuries are often the result of accidents involving significant force (car crashes, motorcycle accidents, truck wrecks or swimming pool accidents, for example). In accidents involving a spinal cord injury, our law firm works hard to pursue maximum compensation for our clients.
Types of spinal cord injuries
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is characterized by loss of movement below the waist. While quadriplegia is a loss of movement from the neck down, paraplegia affects the lower half of the body. A paraplegia injury may result from any type of accident involving negligence. In extreme cases of paraplegia, victims can no longer use their legs. However, in some cases, a paraplegic will be able to have limited mobility, such as the use of hips, knees, and feet.
It’s not unusual for paralysis victims to face substantial economic losses. You may be unable to work in the same capacity. You also may face non-financial losses, such as pain and suffering and mental anguish. A competent and experienced personal injury lawyer from our San Antonio law firm will work tirelessly for you so you can recover the compensation you need.
Quadriplegia
Quadriplegia refers to paralysis from the neck down in which injury victims experience loss of movement in all four limbs. Quadriplegia occurs when one of the seven cervical vertebrae in the neck area above the first thoracic vertebra is injured. In addition to losing movement in all four limbs, a quadriplegic may experience pain and suffering, loss of bladder or bowel control, spasms, and sexual dysfunction.
Quadriplegia can lead to extensive financial loss in addition to mental anguish. If you or a loved one was injured due to the irresponsible behavior of another person or entity, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering, as well as loss of consortium.
Losing the ability to see due to an accident can be devastating. If you lose your vision, you may be unable to work in the same capacity. You may be unable to enjoy hobbies or participate in other activities you once did before your accident.
Loss of sight due to negligence demands tough representation. At the Herrera Law Firm, our experienced San Antonio personal injury attorneys take aggressive action against the insurance companies in pursuit of the compensation injury victims need – and deserve – to cover the long-term costs associated with their loss of sight.
Without question, a person who suddenly loses partial vision or total vision can face significant challenges. Depending on the extent or loss of vision, a victim may become unable to drive a car, continue working, or care for children or other dependents. You may have done your own home repair or car repair, but a blindness injury may result in having to pay someone to do those jobs for you. Loss of vision injuries can be a result of car accidents, truck wrecks or motorcycle crashes, but also might occur as a result of a work accident.
If you or a loved one suffered vision loss due to an injury, you need an experienced attorney from our San Antonio law firm on your side, protecting your rights and fighting for your best interests. Our attorneys will demand full and fair compensation to help you keep moving forward.
An internal injury from a car accident or any other type of accident can turn deadly in moments because of potential blood loss and impaired function of crucial organs. If you sustained an internal injury or a loved one was injured or killed an accident caused by someone else, it’s time to get our San Antonio personal injury lawyers on your side.
You may be entitled to compensation for damages sustained as a result of the accident, including lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. Internal injuries may affect any organ, but some common internal injuries include:
- Liver damage
- Spleen damage
- Pancreas injury
- Stomach injury
Internal damage may include “shock,” which occurs when the injured victim’s body begins to shut down as a result of internal bleeding, significant blood loss or damage to the nervous system. Signs of shock include:
- Clammy skin
- Confusion
- Paleness
- Shallow breathing
- Unconsciousness
- Weak or rapid pulse
- General weakness
If you have any reason to believe you’ve sustained an internal injury, you need to seek medical attention right away. Your health comes first. Then, it’s time to contact our law firm. Our legal team can help you fight for the compensation you’re entitled to.
An electrocution accident is not only traumatic but can have potentially life-altering consequences. Electrocution accidents may result in brain damage, severe burns, and internal damage, among other injuries. Serious electrocution accidents can even be fatal.
A worker may be electrocuted due to failure to comply with regulations in regard to working around power wires, or failing to follow protocol for installing electrical systems. Federal and state codes regulate the way electricity is used.
If you or someone you love was involved in an electrocution accident, the long-term cost of your injuries may be devastating. You may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. At the Herrera Law Firm, a San Antonio personal injury attorney can fight for your rights.
Please note: The Herrera Law Firm does not accept workers’ compensation cases but does handle third-party claims related to workplace injuries.
If you were injured on the job, you may be able to pursue compensation from someone other than your employer, or a third party. The involvement of a general contractor, construction manager, or site foreman may influence who is responsible for a hazard that remains undetected on a construction site.
What are the common causes of electrocution accidents?
- Improperly installed wiring
- Failure to warn employees of high voltage area
- Tree workers directed to work near power lines in violation of protocol
An electrocution accident may be traced back to a violation of federal Occupational Safety Health and Administration (OSHA) guidelines. If you or someone you love has been injured in an electrocution accident, you need an experienced legal team in your corner. Choose the Herrera Law Firm.
Fractures and broken bone can range in severity. A broken femur bone, for example, may lead to significant rehabilitation resulting in loss of income and other potential setbacks. A hairline fracture from an accident, while not as significant as a broken femur bone, can still create hardships, such as lost time from work for medical appointments, or additional expenses because, for instance, you may have to pay someone to do repairs you formerly took care of yourself.
How do accidents cause broken bones?
Fractures and broken bones may occur in car accidents, truck wrecks or motorcycle crashes due to the sheer force of the collision. Other types of accident that may result in broken bones include:
- Slip and fall accidents on driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, and walkways
- Work accidents, such as falling from a ladder or scaffolding
- Bicycle accidents
- Injuries sustained at playgrounds
What are the different types of bone fractures?
Common types of fractures or broken bones include:
- Complete fracture: Bone breaks in two
- Incomplete fracture: Bone is partially broken
- Compound or open fracture: Bone tears through the skin
- Simple fracture: Hairline crack
Consequences from suffering a fracture or broken bone include:
- A victim may be unable to work.
- A child’s development or growth may be affected.
- A bone may not heal properly, leading to additional medical procedures.
- The injury may require surgery or implantation of metal plates.
The long-term consequences of a broken bone can be devastating, especially if the injury requires surgery or heals improperly. That’s why you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. That’s why you need The Herrera Law Firm.
Losing a limb due to amputation is an extremely traumatic experience, and the amputation may have a far-reaching effect on the victim’s life. You may be unable to work in certain job settings or take care of your children full time.
An aggressive personal injury attorney can fight relentlessly for amputation victims with the goal of obtaining maximum compensation. The experienced team of legal professionals at the Herrera Law Firm have the dedication, resources, and knowledge that injury victims need to recover their damages.
If you lost a limb or had a limb amputated because of someone else’s negligence, it’s critical to retain a qualified attorney from our San Antonio law firm as soon as possible. A lost limb can lead to piles of medical bills and a significant loss of income, as well as pain and suffering and emotional trauma.
Don’t be intimidated by the insurance company. Level the playing field and get a hard-working personal injury lawyer on your side now. We’ll fight for maximum compensation, including helping you file a personal injury lawsuit. Contact us today for a free consultation.
