Types of Car Accidents in San Antonio
In San Antonio, various types of car accidents occur on its busy roads, each differing in severity and the types of injuries sustained. The spectrum ranges from minor fender benders to major collisions that result in significant harm.
Types of car accidents include:
- Head-on collisions: When two vehicles collide front-end to front-end. These accidents are often severe due to high speeds and forceful impact involved.
- Side-impact collisions: Also known as T-bone accidents, these occur when the side of a vehicle is hit.
- Rear-end collisions: These accidents happen when a driver fails to maintain adequate distance from the car in front and collides with it.
- Single-vehicle collisions: Such accidents involve only one vehicle that may hit a stationary object, roll over, or run off the road.
- Sideswipe collisions: Sideswipe accidents can happen when vehicles are traveling side by side, and one strikes the side of the other. This often occurs if drivers do not check blind spots before merging into a lane.
- Multiple vehicle collisions: These accidents involve more than two vehicles and may result from a chain reaction to a rear-end collision.
Our legal team understands how these accidents happen and how liability is determined. In complex cases involving commercial vehicles, multiple drivers, or roadway hazards, we may also evaluate whether claims overlap with areas like truck accidents or other high-impact motor vehicle cases.
Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Common injuries may include the following:
- Whiplash: Whiplash often happens when the neck is suddenly forced back and forth, leading to injuries of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Even low-speed collisions can cause whiplash.
- Broken bones: The force of impact in a car accident can cause fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbone. Some broken bones may require surgery, long-term rehabilitation, or physical therapy.
- Head injuries: Traumatic brain injuries can vary from mild concussions to severe brain damage. A blow to the head during a car accident can have lasting effects, including memory loss, cognitive difficulties, and mood changes.
- Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord may result in paralysis or serious mobility problems. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, physical therapy, and sometimes lifelong care.
- Internal injuries: The blunt force trauma from a car accident can harm organs such as the liver, spleen, or lungs. Internal injuries are often not immediately obvious, so it is crucial to seek medical attention after any accident.
- Lacerations and bruising: Shattered glass, contact with the dashboard, and deploying airbags can all cause cuts, bruises, and abrasions. While these may seem minor, they can become serious if untreated or infected.
- Psychological injuries: Car accidents may also cause emotional distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression. Emotional injuries can be as disruptive as physical ones and may require counseling or therapy.
More severe crashes can result in permanent disabilities that fall under catastrophic injuries, requiring long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and lifestyle adjustments. Our firm works closely with medical professionals to ensure injuries are properly documented and fully accounted for in your claim.
What Damages Could Be Recovered in a Car Accident Claim?
Potential damages may include:
- Medical expenses: Medical bills can accumulate rapidly after a car accident, especially if serious injuries are involved. Compensation can cover costs such as emergency room visits, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and future treatments related to the accident.
- Lost wages: If your injuries keep you from working, either temporarily or permanently, you may be entitled to recover lost wages. This includes missed income during recovery as well as diminished earnings if you cannot return to your previous job.
- Property damage: Compensation can help pay for repairs or replacement of your car, as well as other personal property damaged in the accident, such as electronics or personal items inside the vehicle.
- Pain and suffering: Car accidents frequently cause significant physical pain and emotional anguish. Pain and suffering damages compensate you for the impact the accident has had on your quality of life, including ongoing discomfort or emotional trauma.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: If you are unable to participate in activities you once enjoyed, you may be eligible for compensation for this loss. This includes missing out on hobbies, sports, or social events because of your injuries.
- Disfigurement or disability: Permanent scarring, disfigurement, or disability can deeply affect a person's life. Compensation can be sought for the emotional and practical consequences of these conditions.
- Wrongful death: If a loved one dies because of a car accident, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. Compensation may include funeral costs, loss of companionship, lost future earnings, and emotional suffering.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in San Antonio
After experiencing a car accident in San Antonio, taking prompt and strategic steps is crucial for protecting your rights and preparing for any claims.
Follow these essential steps after a car accident in San Antonio to protect your interests:
- Move to safety and assess injuries: If possible, move to a safe area and check yourself and others for injuries.
- Call 911 for police and medical support: Contact emergency services to report the accident, seek medical attention, and ensure a police report is filed.
- Document the accident scene: Take photos and notes about the damage, vehicles, road conditions, and any factors that contributed to the accident.
- Exchange contact and insurance information: Get information from others involved and witnesses, including names, phone numbers, license plates, and insurance details.
- Promptly notify your insurance company: Report the accident to your insurer, but avoid admitting fault or discussing details without advice from a car accident attorney in San Antonio.
- Retain accident-related evidence: Keep any physical evidence, receipts, and relevant documents related to the accident and associated expenses.
- Follow up on medical care and documentation: Continue with necessary medical treatments and keep detailed records of your injuries and recovery.
- Consult a lawyer before making legal statements: Talk to a car accident attorney in San Antonio before making written or recorded statements to insurance companies or other parties.
At Miller Medical Malpractice, we emphasize providing our clients with clear guidance during these first steps, making sure they understand what helps their legal process and recovery prospects.
Following a car accident in San Antonio, there are additional steps you should take to protect your legal interests and strengthen your case:
- Obtain a copy of the police report: Request the official accident report filed by the San Antonio Police Department, as it is a vital piece of evidence that includes observations and determinations.
- Seek follow-up medical care: Even after initial treatment, continue all recommended appointments and maintain thorough records of healthcare providers, treatments, and prescribed medications.
- Maintain a post-accident journal: Document your symptoms, pain levels, time missed from work, and how the accident affects your life. This information can support your claim and demonstrate ongoing damages.
- Preserve relevant evidence: Keep damaged items like your vehicle, car seats, and belongings without altering them. Photos, receipts, and communications related to the accident also support your claim handled by an auto accident attorney in San Antonio.
- Follow advice from your legal team: Stay in contact with your car accident attorney in San Antonio throughout the process, and share updates or new concerns as they arise. Taking these active steps can help build a strong foundation for asserting your rights after an injury on Texas roads.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in San Antonio
Car accidents in San Antonio happen for many reasons, each bringing its own considerations for liability and litigation.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in San Antonio include:
- Distracted driving: This involves texting, using cell phones, adjusting devices, or any activity that diverts attention from driving.
- Speeding: Driving too fast for conditions increases the risk of collisions and decreases reaction time.
- Driving under the influence: Alcohol or drugs impair judgment, coordination, and response, making impaired driving a major cause of accidents.
- Weather hazards: Heavy rain, fog, or slick roads, especially during storms, can contribute to crashes on highways like I-410 or US-281.
- Road construction: Ongoing roadwork on routes such as Loop 1604 or IH-10 results in lane changes and congestion, which can lead to accidents.
- Failure to obey traffic signals: Running red lights or disregarding traffic signs at busy intersections often leads to dangerous collisions in high-traffic areas of the city.
Understanding these common causes helps our team at Miller Medical Malpractice better develop strategies that address each client’s unique situation and provide more complete representation for their case.
Why Choose Miller Medical Malpractice?
Our firm brings focused experience, local insight, and personalized advocacy to every car accident case we handle. We take the time to understand your situation and explain your options clearly, so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
Learn more about our legal team and see what past clients have shared through our client reviews.
If you’ve been injured in a crash and need guidance you can trust, speak with a San Antonio car accident attorney who understands local roads, courts, and insurance tactics.
Call (210) 361-9796 today to schedule a consultation.
