Damages in Car Accident Cases

Thousands of people drive in and around Cape Cod each day, many of whom are vacationers who are unfamiliar with the roads. A high number of travelers, unfortunately, often means an increase in the number of car accidents, especially when drivers lack experience traveling certain roads. Although some people walk away from car accidents unscathed, many accidents cause devastating injuries. If you were harmed in a vehicle collision, you can speak with a lawyer regarding what claims you may be able to assert to recover damages. The dedicated Cape Cod car accident attorneys of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, have been aiding local residents in the pursuit of damages for over one hundred and fifty years collectively. Our zealous advocacy has allowed us to attain several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our injured clients.

While there are seemingly endless injuries that can arise from a car accident, some are more common than others. For example, traumatic brain injuries such as concussions and hemorrhages often occur in high-impact accidents, which cause a person's head to strike the steering wheel or another part of the interior of a car. Brain injuries can cause permanent damage, such as diminished cognitive skills, memory loss, headaches, and loss of motor function.

Back injuries such as fractured or herniated discs and damage to the spinal cord are also common in car accidents. Back injuries can cause extreme pain, neuropathy, muscle weakness, and in extreme cases, may render the victim paralyzed.

Neck injuries, such as whiplash, are extremely common in car accidents as well. Whiplash generally occurs in rear-end collisions, as the force of the impact causes the person’s head to strike the headrest. People involved in car accidents often sustain collapsed lungs, internal bleeding, and organ damage. Fractures, torn ligaments, strains, sprains, and bruising also frequently arise out of car accidents. Notably, not all harm caused by car accidents is physical in nature. Rather, it is common for people to suffer anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder following an accident.

If you suffered harm due to an accident, you may be able to recover compensation from the party responsible for it, and a seasoned injury lawyer can help. First, you must establish liability. Typically this is accomplished through a negligence claim in a civil lawsuit. To prove negligence under Massachusetts law, you, as the plaintiff, must show that you were owed a duty of care by the defendant, and the defendant breached that duty. You must then establish that the breach caused the accident and harm you suffered due to the accident. In order to prove the breach caused your harm, you must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the accident would not have occurred without the breach and that the breach was a substantial factor in bringing about the accident.

Once liability is established, you may be able to recover the cost of any medical treatment you needed due to the injuries you sustained in the accident. This includes the cost of any hospitalization, surgery, diagnostic tests, therapy, or adaptive devices. You may also be able to recover future medical expenses if you can prove with reasonable certainty what treatment you will need in the future. In addition to medical expenses, you may be able to recover compensation for the loss or impairment of your earning capacity due to the accident. You may be able to recover damages for any pain and suffering you experienced due to the accident as well.

If you sustained injuries in a vehicle collision, it is prudent to speak with a dedicated attorney regarding your options for pursuing damages in a car accident case. The skillful injury lawyers of the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, will work diligently to help you seek any compensation you may be able to recover following your accident. We proudly maintain a record of favorable case outcomes, including many verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars. We regularly represent injured parties in lawsuits in Cape Cod. We are also available for consultations in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can contact us via our form online or at 888-262-6664 to schedule a confidential and free meeting to discuss your case. Nós Falamos Português.