What Are Common Delayed Car Accident Symptoms?

Man grimaces in pain as he holds his lower back.

It is important to seek medical attention after a car accident. Even though you may not be experiencing noticeable or immediate symptoms, you should seek medical clearance from a doctor. During and after an accident, your body may experience an adrenaline rush, which can mask the sensation of injury symptoms. Delayed car accident injuries could occur in the days or weeks after an accident.

Common delayed injury symptoms could include:

• Headaches. A headache could be a sign of a concussion or whiplash.

• Localized pain and stiffness. Localized pain, such as back or neck pain, may be a symptom of a larger problem, including whiplash or a herniated disc injury. You could have a soft tissue injury.

• Emotional injuries. It is possible to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a car accident. Changes in mood or behavior could be a result of your car accident.

Do I Need to Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident?

If you are experiencing any symptoms after an accident, you should see a medical professional.  You should continue to see a doctor until your symptoms stop. Depending on the circumstances, your symptoms could be a serious health concern.

In addition, when you try to file a claim with your insurance company, they will use your medical history to assess your injury claim. If you do not have a medical history after your accident, the insurance company may try to claim that your car accident injuries were not severe enough to seek medical attention.

Contact a Lufkin Car Accident Attorney Today

When you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver or entity, we recommend that you contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your situation.
At Mike Love & Associates, LLC, our Lufkin attorneys advocate for the victims of car accidents throughout Texas. We could help you gather evidence, file your claim, and defend you against the insurance companies. Call us today at (936) 632-2000 for a free, confidential consultation.

Notorious Auto Defects in History Part 1: Ford Pinto

The Ford Pinto is responsible for one of the most infamous scandals in US automotive history. This once-popular subcompact car is also a terrifying example of what can happen to consumers when products contain deadly safety defects. Fuel tanks in these vehicles were prone to punctures or ruptures during low-speed rear-end collisions. Gasoline would leak underneath the car and combust. Fuel tank fires killed an estimated 27 to 180 people. Additional victims were disfigured from burn injuries.You may be wondering why a company would release a product that was prone to exploding in minor rear-end collisions.

The story of the Ford Pinto is also a tale of corporate greed. During the late 1960s, Ford was desperate to compete with foreign manufacturers that were selling cheaper, smaller vehicles in the US. The Pinto was Ford’s answer to becoming competitive in this market. Ford executives wanted to get the Pinto onto the market as soon as possible. A 25-month delivery deadline was set. Ford initially discovered the fuel tank problem during low-speed, rear-end crash tests. Multiple tests resulted in fuel tank ruptures.

There were two reasons why this kept happening. Engineers discovered that bolts could puncture the fuel tanks. The filler necks could also tear away from the fuel tanks. Both flaws caused fuel leaks and created a major fire hazard. However, several tests did not result in fuel tank ruptures. Engineers used various safety devices to protect the fuel tanks during those tests. An internal memo uncovered during a lawsuit against Ford showed that it had made a cruel calculation while deciding whether to apply fixes to the fuel tanks. According to this memo, Ford calculated that it would have cost $113 million to delay production and apply the fixes, but only $49 million to pay damages from lawsuits filed by victims.

Ford did eventually issue a recall for 1971-1976 Pintos in 1978. By the time the recall was announced, countless people had their lives ended or destroyed. In one case, a 13-year-old boy suffered severe burns and disfigurement. Three teenage girls in Indiana were burned alive while riding in a Ford Pinto. More than 100 lawsuits were filed against Ford by crash survivors and their families. We will never know the damages Ford paid victims because many of the cases were settled out of court. However, the damage to Ford’s reputation at the time was substantial. Even decades after its release, many people still remember the infamous Ford Pinto.

Injured by a Defective Auto Product?

You can contact the Texas product liability lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC for a free consultation if a defective auto product injured you or a loved one. Our attorneys can review your situation and inform you of available legal options to pursue damages.

Beware of Dog: Not All Dogs are Man’s Best Friend

In 2014, KFC was accused of asking the family of a disfigured 3-year-old girl to leave the restaurant. Three months prior to this incident, the girl had been attacked by three Pit Bulls while visiting her grandfather. Although the girl survived the attack, she lost sight in one eye and can no longer move the right side of her face. Her parents described how she could no longer look at herself in the mirror and did not want to be seen in public. This story is an example of how dog attacks can leave victims physically and emotionally scarred.

Dog attacks are common in the US. According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 800,000 people in the US receive medical attention for dog bites each year. Statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that during 2015, more than 28,000 people in the US required reconstructive surgery after being attacked by dogs. Children are more likely to suffer severe injuries, such as disfigurement, after an attack. Even minor dog bites can cause severe health complications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics published in 2015 show that there are an average of 4.5 million dog bites in the US each year. Roughly one in five of these bites becomes infected.

Although many of these bites result in minor infections, some bites transmit MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA infections are more challenging to treat because MRSA is resistant to antibiotics. Attacks can also be fatal. Some organizations, such as Dogbites.org, keep a running tally of the yearly deaths caused by dog attacks.

Are Owners Responsible for Dog Bites?

Dog owners may be liable for injuries or deaths caused by their pets. It would depend on the circumstances. In Texas, a dog owner may be liable for an attack if he or she knew the dog was dangerous and it attacked someone. For example, the owner may have been aware that the dog had a history of aggressive tendencies. The owner may also be liable if they do not properly restrain the dog and it attacks someone. In these cases, victims or their family members may be able to file lawsuits seeking damages. The breed of the dog is an important factor in determining damages in a dog bite lawsuit. Although there are certainly many Pit Bull fans in the US, these dogs are more physically capable of causing significant harm to a person than smaller dogs, such as a Pomeranian.If you or a loved one were attacked, then an attorney could help determine whether the owner is liable.

There are nuances to dog bite statutes in Texas, so it is important to discuss your situation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Damages from a dog bite lawsuit could help pay for medical bills, reconstructive surgery, or funeral expenses. Pain and suffering damages, also called non-economic damages, may be included in cases that involve disfigurement or psychological trauma. If a dog attacked you or a loved one, contact the Texas personal injury lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC. We can investigate your eligibility for filing a lawsuit. Injured? Call us today.