Injuries From Accidents

Injury Settlement Eligibility For Injury Lawsuit Funding

Listed below are some of the most common types of injury settlement that TriMark offers pre-settlement advances on.

Back Injury

• Back injuries and neck injuries (see neck injury) frequently occur together in the same accident due to such close proximity. They also share many of the same types of injury, including degenerative disc disease, bulging and herniated discs (see disc injury), spinal stenosis, facet joint injuries, radiculopathy (pinched nerve), vertebrae fractures, and spine injuries (see spinal cord injury). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year, mostly from heavy lifting and falling accidents, each year. Back injuries account for one in every five workplace injuries or illnesses.
  
  In addition, about a million more back injuries occur outside the workplace, primarily from auto accidents, slip and fall accidents, and sports injuries. While many back injuries heal with conservative treatment, approximately 1.4 million spinal surgeries are performed each year, with spinal decompression and fusion being the most commonly performed spinal surgery in the US.

Burn Injury

• Common burn injuries include thermal burns, radiation burns, chemical burns, and electrical burns. Burn injuries are classified by degree (first, second, third, or fourth) depending on how deeply and severely they penetrate the skin’s surface. According to the American Medical Association, nearly 500,000 burn injuries require medical treatment each year, and about 40,000 of those require hospitalization. Burn injuries can be severe, leading to complications like infections, necrosis, and scarring. Fire, scalding liquids, chemicals, electricity, and hot surfaces cause most burns. Burn surgery is often essential for severe cases to promote healing and restore function. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the four degrees of burn injury are:

Chest Injury

• Common chest injuries include rib fractures, pulmonary contusions, pneumothorax, puncture wounds, penetrating chest trauma (including high-velocity projectiles and impalements), and crush injuries. These injuries often affect the ribs, lungs, liver, heart, and great vessels. Chest injuries are categorized into minor (e.g., bruises), moderate (e.g., rib fractures), and severe (e.g., lung punctures). Annually, chest injuries account for about 25% of trauma-related deaths in the US. They can be life-threatening, requiring immediate medical attention. Most severe chest injuries result from car accidents (including seatbelt injuries, steering wheel injuries, and airbag injuries), falling from height accidents, firearms-related incidents, and sports injuries. Approximately 10-20% of chest injuries require surgical intervention.

Concussion | mTBI

• A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (see traumatic brain injury) caused by a blow or jolt to the head, leading to temporary brain function disruption. Concussion injuries involve the brain, often affecting memory, balance, and cognitive function. Concussions are common, with about 2.8 million people in the US. sustaining a traumatic brain injury annually. Concussions can be serious, leading to long-term cognitive issues if untreated. Slip, trip, and fall accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and sports injuries are responsible for most concussions. According to Mayfield Brain & Spine, concussions are classified into three grades:

Degloving Injury

• A traumatic degloving injury occurs when the skin and underlying tissues are forcibly torn away from the bone, exposing underlying muscles, tendons, or bones. They are classified into open degloving (visible) and closed degloving (internal) types. Degloving can occur anywhere on the body, but the most commonly affected areas include the extremities (hands, feet, fingers, legs, and arms), abdomen, chest, head, and face. These injuries are rare, accounting for only about 1% of traumatic injuries. However, they are serious traumatic injuries that can lead to significant complications and usually require early surgical intervention to save the affected limb or tissue. Most degloving injuries result from motorcycle accidents, car accidents, animal bites (see Dog Attacks), work-related and construction accidents, and falls from heights.

Disc Injury

• Disc injuries include disc compression, herniated discs, bulging discs, disc protrusions, and degenerative disc disease, and involve the spinal discs between vertebrae. These injuries can put pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord, causing numbness and pain in the head, neck, back, arms, or legs. Disc injuries are classified into compressions, bulging, protrusions, and herniation (sequestration). Injured discs are common occurrences, with millions of people affected annually. Causes include aging, poor posture, ergonomic injuries, improper lifting-especially in awkward positions, repetitive bending over and lifting, trauma from vehicle accidents, slipping and falling accidents, contact sports, and work injuries. While many disc injuries heal with conservative treatment, about 1.4 million spinal surgeries are performed each year in the US. According to The Disc Doctor, the four stages of disc injury are:

Dog Bites | Dog Attacks

• Dog bites and dog attacks (aka dog mauling) can cause massive injuries and life-threatening infections, including tetanus, meningitis, and rabies, with the most commonly targeted areas being the head and face, hands, neck, and arms. Common dog attack injuries include extensive damage to skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as nerve damage, facial disfigurement, traumatic amputations, scarring, blunt force trauma, broken bones, and crush injuries. In addition, many victims experience emotional distress, recurrent nightmares, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  Since 2016, just three breeds of dog have been responsible for 81% of all fatal dog attacks in the US. They are the Pitbull (65.6%), Rottweiler (10.4%), and German Shepherd (4.6%). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4.5 million people in the US are bitten by a dog each year. Of these, over 5,300 are USPS workers, 50% (2.25 million+) are children, 800,000 require medical attention, and in 2023, 58 dog bite fatalities were reported. Many dog attack injuries require extensive surgery, hospitalization, and recovery, and in 2022, the average dog bite insurance settlement was $64,555.

Ear Injury | Hearing Loss

• Ear and hearing injuries include trauma to the outer, middle, or inner ear, often causing tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss. Common types of ear injuries are ruptured or perforated eardrums, ear infections, and noise-induced hearing loss. Hearing loss levels range from mild to profound. About 37.5 million adults report some hearing difficulty. These injuries can be serious, leading to permanent hearing loss and equilibrium or balance issues. Causes include loud noises, failure to use ear protection in industrial areas, head trauma, explosions or blast injuries, and infections. Many ear injuries require medical treatment, with thousands needing surgery annually.

Elbow Injury

• Common elbow injuries include fractures, dislocations, and tendonitis (e.g., tennis elbow). These injuries range from mild (strains) to severe (fractures). Elbow injuries are relatively common, especially in athletes and manual laborers. Elbow injuries can be serious, leading to chronic pain or disability. Most elbow injuries result from falls, sports, vehicle accidents, and repetitive motions. Approximately 85% of elbow dislocations require surgery.

Electrical Injury | Electrocution

• Although often used interchangeably, electrocution and electric shock injuries describe two different things. Electrocution is fatal; it happens when an electrical charge passes through the body that is strong enough that it causes death. Electrical injuries, on the other hand, range from minor to major electrical shocks and can cause external and internal burns, cardiac arrest, organ failure, cognitive issues, physical disabilities, nerve damage, and paralysis. A third type, arc welding injuries, occurs when unprotected or unshielded skin or eyes are exposed to electric welding arcs. Arc welding emits intense ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation. It can burn skin similar to severe sunburn and cause severe, permanent eye damage, including blindness and ocular melanoma, a rare type of eye cancer commonly associated with welding.
  
  Annually, over 4,000 electrical injuries occur in the US, with more than 300 fatalities. They can be extremely serious, often requiring immediate medical attention. Most electrical injuries are caused by direct contact with live wires, electrical arcs, and faulty equipment. Most electrocutions and major electrical injuries occur in industrial, construction, and maintenance environments. While exact figures for surgeries are not widely reported, severe electrical injury cases frequently require surgical intervention.

Eye Injury | Vision Loss

• Common eye and vision injuries include corneal abrasions, foreign objects, injection injuries, and blunt trauma. These injuries range from minor (scratches) to severe (globe rupture). Annually, about 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the US. Eye injuries can be serious, leading to vision loss or total blindness. Accidents, sports, exposure to chemicals, and lack of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), especially the failure to use job-specific or activity-specific protective eyewear, are the cause of most eye injuries. Most eye injuries occur at home or in the workplace. Thousands of eye injuries require surgery each year. Proper use of protective eyewear can prevent up to 90% of common eye injuries.

Facial Injury

• Common facial injuries in motor vehicle collisions and slip and fall accidents include fractures, lacerations, broken teeth, blunt force injuries, crush injuries, and soft tissue damage. Facial injuries are common, with over half of car accident victims experiencing them. They often occur from impacts with dashboards, windshields, steering wheels, airbags, or the ground. Dog bites are another common cause of facial injuries, with roughly 50% of dog attacks (see dog bites) resulting in injuries to the face. Facial injuries can be serious, leading to disfigurement or functional impairment. Many require plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery, especially for severe fractures, animal attacks, and crush injuries. Annually, about 2.4 million facial injuries occur in the US, with a significant number requiring surgical intervention.

Fall Injury

• See Slips, Trips, and Falling Injuries

Foot Injury | Ankle Injury

• Common foot and ankle injuries in car accidents, workplace accidents, and slip and fall accidents include broken bones, soft tissue damage to tendons and ligaments, avulsion fractures, crush injuries, and sprains. Annually, about 2 million foot and ankle injuries occur in the US. They often result from impacts, falls, or heavy objects being dropped on them. These injuries can be serious, leading to chronic pain or disability. Many require surgery, especially severe fractures and crush injuries. Foot and ankle injuries frequently occur in high-impact accidents, construction site accidents, and workplaces where heavy equipment is operating.

Fractures (Broken Bones)

• A fracture is one of the most common bone injuries. It happens when a bone is cracked, completely broken, fragmented, or crushed. Common fractures include those of the collarbone, wrist, ankle, and hip. About 18.3 million fractures occur annually in the US, with many resulting from falls, car accidents, and sports injuries. Workplace accidents, especially slips and falls, are frequent causes. Fractures can be serious, with some leading to complications.
  
  Serious early bone fracture complications include compartment syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolisms. Delayed complications can include avascular necrosis of bone, reaction to internal fixation devices, and complex regional pain syndrome. Many fractures require corrective surgery to set properly, and severe cases, although rare, can be fatal. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, fractures are classified as either open or closed, and there are eight different types of fractures:

Hand and Wrist Injuries

• Hand and wrist injuries include fractures, sprains, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, tendon and ligament damage, degloving, and crush injuries. Annually, about 1 million hand injuries occur in the US, with 20% related to workplace accidents. Common causes include falls, repetitive motions, extensive time using a computer mouse, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, and stuck-in-between accidents. These injuries often occur at home, work, or during sports. Many require surgery, especially severe fractures, and surgical complications can be serious.

Hip and Pelvic Injuries

• Fractures or damage to the pelvic area, often requiring extensive rehabilitation.

Knee Injury

• Damage to the knee joint, including ligament tears and fractures, often requiring surgery.

Neck Injury

• Neck injuries and back injuries (see back injury) often occur together and share many of the same types of injury due to being in such close proximity. Common neck injuries include bulging and herniated discs (see disc injury), degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet joint injuries, vertebrae fractures, radiculopathy (pinched nerves), and cervical spine injury resulting in spinal cord disruption (see spinal cord injury), which typically results in total paralysis, called tetraplegia (aka quadriplegia).
  
  According to a recent study, car accidents cause about 869,000 cervical spine injuries per year in the US. That figure includes 841,000 sprain/strain injuries (see whiplash), 2,800 spinal disk injuries, 23,500 fractures, 2,800 spinal cord injuries, and 1,500 dislocations. While many neck injuries heal with conservative treatment, approximately 200,000 neck surgeries are performed each year, with cervical discectomy and fusion being the most commonly performed neck surgery in the US.

Nerve Damage

• Injuries that affect the nervous system, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness.

Psychological Injuries

• Emotional and mental trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, are common following an accident.

Shoulder Injury

• Shoulder injuries include rotator cuff tears, muscle, tendon, and ligament tears, dislocations, and fractures. Annually, millions of shoulder injuries occur in the US, often from motor vehicle accidents, slipping and falling accidents, sports injuries, and workplace accidents. They can be serious, leading to chronic pain, loss of function, or disability. Common causes include blunt force trauma impacts from vehicle accidents or falling accidents, repetitive motion injuries, and heavy lifting. Many require surgery, with over 460,000 rotator cuff surgeries performed annually.

Slips and Fall Injury

• More than one million people visit the ER due to slips trips and falls, and about 17,000 people die from them each year. Common slip and fall injuries include fractures, concussions, disc injuries in the back and neck, brain injuries, head injuries, hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, and other soft tissue injuries, as well as broken teeth and other facial injuries. Falls from height often result in multiple fractures, spinal injuries, internal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. These injuries range from minor (bruises) to severe (disabilities or death). Annually, over 8 million emergency room visits in the US are due to falls. They frequently occur at home, at work, recreationally, and in public places such as retail stores, casinos, and restaurants and are often caused by wet floors, uneven surfaces, and ladders. Falls result in over 800,000 hospitalizations and an average of 46,653 deaths each year. Severe cases may require surgery or multiple surgeries, as well as extensive physical therapy to regain function.

Soft Tissue Injury

• Soft tissue injuries are damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, connecting tissues, cartilage, and the spongy cushions between joints and vertebrae. Common injuries include cuts, tears, avulsion fractures, and bulging, protruding, and herniated discs (See Disc Injuries). Soft tissue injuries occur frequently in motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall incidents, sports injuries, and workplace accidents. Soft tissue injuries can be serious, leading to pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Most are caused by trauma or overuse. Annually, about 900,000 cases occur in the US, with many requiring medical attention.

Spinal Cord Injury

• The impact of a car crash accident and airbag deployment on the human body, especially at high speeds, and the rapid deceleration-acceleration-deceleration whipping motion of the head that is often associated with them can inflict massive g-force injuries on the body, spine, and spinal cord. Falls can also cause long-term disabilities from a cervical spine injury or spinal cord injuries that range from bulging and herniated discs and vertebrae dislocations to spinal compression injuries and incomplete or complete spinal cord severing injuries. Severe spinal injuries typically result in partial paralysis (paraplegia) or total paralysis (tetraplegia) below the level of the spinal injury.

Struck-By Injuries

• Including the typical “pedestrian hit by car” scenario, struck-by injuries occur when an object or equipment forcibly hits a person. Common struck-by injuries include simple and compound fractures, crush injuries, soft tissue damage, and traumatic brain injuries. These injuries are categorized into four types:
  
  1. Struck by flying objects
  2. Struck by falling objects
  3. Struck by swinging objects
  4. Struck by rolling objects
  
  They are prevalent in both construction and industrial environments, with about 15,200 nonfatal injuries and 150 fatalities annually in the US. Most incidents involve vehicles, heavy equipment, or falling objects. These injuries can be severe, often requiring surgery. Protective measures are crucial to prevent such accidents.

Stuck-In and Stuck-In-Between Injuries

• Stuck-in and stuck-in-between injuries occur when a person’s body or body part gets caught, pinned, pulled, sucked into, crushed, squeezed, wrapped around, or pinched by machinery or between two objects. The resulting injuries are grievous, including multiple compound fractures, massive blood loss, traumatic amputations, traumatic dislocations, neck, back, and spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, asphyxiation, loss of limb(s), crush injuries, and death. There are three categories:
  
  1. Buried in / Buried by
  2. Pinned between
  3. Caught in machinery
  
  Some graphic examples of this type of injury include workers being buried in a collapsed excavation, trench, or mining cave-in, falling or being pulled into a wood chipper, hands and arms getting torn off by, or wrapping around, rotating shop equipment such as drill presses or lathes, and being ingested (sucked into a jet engine). Stuck-in and stuck-in-between injuries mostly occur in construction, industrial, production, and manufacturing environments. About 15,200 nonfatal injuries and 150 fatalities occur annually in the US. Most incidents involve machinery, vehicles, or collapsing structures, and these injuries are, understandably, quite severe or fatal.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• A traumatic brain injury occurs when blunt force trauma, a skull-compressing or skull-penetrating injury, or a crush injury to the head damages the brain. TBIs are classified as mild (mTBI), moderate, or severe. Common TBIs include concussions and diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Motor vehicle accidents and workplace accidents are two of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury. TBIs can be severe, leading to long-term disability, cognitive deficits, or death. Many require surgery, especially in severe cases. Severe traumatic brain injuries are considered a catastrophic injury. According to the Brain Trauma Foundation, of the 2.5 million TBI’s that occur annually, 20% (500,000) are attributed to motor vehicle accidents. In addition, about 214,000 TBIs require hospitalization, about 69,000 result in death, and for another 80,000 to 90,000, their TBI causes long-term, often life-changing disabilities.

Whiplash

• Whiplash is the term commonly used to describe muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries to the soft tissues of the neck. It is one of the most common car accident injuries, as well as the most common airbag injury. Whiplash is caused by rapid, uncontrolled back-and-forth or side-to-side whipping movements of the head. It is often seen when people get rear-ended or are involved in a T-bone accident. Whiplash affects about 3 million Americans annually.

Understanding these common car accident injuries can help you recognize the severity of your situation and seek appropriate medical and legal assistance. Legal funding can provide the financial support you need to cover medical expenses and other costs during recovery while your attorney negotiates the maximum compensation you deserve.

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