Severe auto accidents frequently result in critical injuries to one or more persons involved.
Two Drivers Hospitalized in Critical Condition After Severe Collision on the West Side
According to a KSAT News report, two people were hospitalized after a severe accident on the West Side Saturday morning.
Police reported the crash happened at around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 27th, at the intersection of South General McMullen Drive and West Commerce Street on the West Side. A driver of a Chevy Camaro was reportedly speeding down the street when he collided with a Chevy Traverse at the intersection. Both drivers were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. It is unclear if any other people were injured as a result of the accident or if either driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash. The investigation is ongoing.
Did You Know?
There were 5.4 million auto accident injuries resulting in the need for medical attention across the United States in 2021.
Critical, Grave, or Fatal Injury — How to Tell and How it Affects Your Personal Injury Claim
If you are injured because of someone’s negligent or reckless actions at work or in an auto accident, you have the right to pursue a personal injury claim for damages.
How severe your injury is will affect your claim. Let’s take a look at the difference between a critical, grave, and fatal injury and what to do if you have been injured.
Critical, Grave, and Fatal Injury Definition
News media often tosses these words around to generate sensational headlines for clicks. Let’s take a look at what these terms actually mean.
Critical Injury
Critical injuries are serious and life-threatening and require timely medical care. If a hospital lists you as critical, your vital signs will not be normal and will be incredibly unstable. Critically injured persons have a high likelihood of dying from their injuries.
Grave Injury
Grave injuries are serious and can escalate to life-threatening situations but are not immediately life-threatening like a critical injury. A gravely injured person is more likely to recover than a critically injured person if they receive timely medical treatment.
Fatal Injury
Fatal injuries are so catastrophic that even if a person receives timely medical treatment, there is virtually no chance of them surviving. These injuries are usually the result of fires, auto accidents, and drowning/suffocation accidents.
How Does My Injury Affect My Claim?
Properly assessing your injury is a critical factor in receiving just compensation.
There are two major ways your injury severity affects your claim:
- Medical Expenses — Medical expenses are where most of your compensation will likely come from and include things like ambulance costs, X-rays, and surgeries. How much compensation you will receive will depend on how severely you were injured.
- PTSD/Trauma — Damages can be claimed for psychological conditions that affect your life after a catastrophic injury. The more severely injured you are, the more likely you will be affected by trauma and be able to claim damages.
Injured? Call Carabin Shaw to Explore Your Legal Options
If you were critically or gravely injured or lost a loved one in an accident, Carabin Shaw can help you understand complex medical and legal technicalities that will affect your case.
Carabin Shaw has represented those critically and gravely injured across Texas for more than 30 years. We’re a trusted name in San Antonio because we put our clients first. Call our firm to schedule your free case evaluation with a Carabin Shaw personal injury attorney today at 800-862-1260, or use the live chat to get started. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.