The following is a real Car accident personal injury story In March of this year, Raúl Núñez, a 50-year-old marine inspector for a private yacht company, experienced an accident in Miami that turned his life upside down. While waiting in his car for other vehicles to pass so he could enter the Expressway, he was rear-ended, causing significant injuries.
Raúl considered himself a good driver and had never been in an accident before. In his youth, he had even been a racer of cars and motorcycles and had won some races. He drove with special care and caution now that he was older. However, there was nothing he could do to prevent what destiny had in store for him. “It wasn’t my fault,” he reflects. “There was nothing I could have done differently to avoid it.”
The impact of the rear-end collision was severe. It jolted his body and, particularly, his neck, causing his head to crash into the sunroof. Raúl recalls experiencing the collision in slow motion, and with the blow to his head, his forehead split open and began to bleed.
Fortunately, a passing police officer saw the accident and came to help. Raúl was dazed and had blurred vision. The officer filed an accident report and offered to take him to the doctor, but he refused. Due to fear and nerves, he just wanted to get home and drove back there, three blocks away.
The car that rear-ended him was declared a total loss and a tow truck was called to remove it. The accident was due to the negligence of the driver responsible.
It is estimated that approximately 15% of auto accidents resulting in injuries in the United States occur due to driver distraction and cellphone use. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2021 alone, there were 6 million auto accidents in the country, of which 1,700,000 resulted in injuries and around 60,000 had fatalities.
A Lifelong Personal Injury
Raúl’s initial impulse was to ignore his injuries and forget what had happened. However, when he woke up the next day, his body reminded him of the toll: “I couldn’t move; the pain was unbearable. I couldn’t move my neck, shoulder, knees, practically anything,” he recalls.
Based on the recommendation of some friends, he sought help at our auto accident clinic, Agape, where a doctor examined him and diagnosed him with compressed vertebrae in his spine due to the impact.
He also had bruises on his chest, knee, shoulder, and arm. He was prescribed painkillers and placed on disability. He had to stay still for a while before starting therapy. “It was very painful,” Raúl recalls. “It was a pain I had never felt in my life.”
Raúl also had to deal with dizziness and headaches that typically accompany this type of injury for several weeks. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, approximately 40% of all spinal cord injuries occurring annually in the United States are caused by auto accidents (around 7,160 cases).
Raúl’s 7 cervical vertebrae were compressed, which are part of the neck region, and he suffered a cervical sprain in the ligaments of this area due to the impact.
Injuries to the vertebrae, like those Raúl experienced, are challenging to treat. In some cases, surgery can help, but it often carries more risks than benefits. In Raúl’s case, it wouldn’t have been of any use, so he had to come to terms with living with this injury for the rest of his life.
“I can’t turn my neck well anymore or do the same activities as before,” he explains. Additionally, his mobility in old age may become much more difficult over time due to the lingering effects of the accident. “I’ll probably have to use a wheelchair when I’m older,” he adds.
Other common injuries caused by car accidents include brain contusions, fractures, sprains and tears of ligaments and muscles.
Starting Over After the Car Accident
It’s been nearly eight months since Raúl was rear-ended, and although the therapies he underwent for three months helped, his neck was left severely damaged.
At the end of his disability period, he realized he needed to find another job. Marina inspections were demanding, and he had to drive from one place to another during the day, which he could no longer do. So, he was forced to leave his eight-year job.
Raúl can no longer engage in the same activities as before. He can’t exercise in the same way, lift weights, or do the parallel bars he used to do. He can’t drive or sit for long periods. He can’t ride a bike or scuba dive like he used to. He can’t even sleep with a pillow.
However, he tries to stay positive. “There are worse things,” he assures. “I know I have to take it easy.” He now works online to stay at home and continues taking care of himself while waiting for his body to recover further.
And although he advises people to be cautious when driving, he also knows that there are things that happen that we can’t control. “Not everything depends on you. Sometimes, it’s other people who drive poorly.”
The most important lesson he learned from the accident is never to be afraid to start over. “An auto accident is not something you’re expecting,” he says. “But it can happen. Sometimes you just have to reinvent yourself and design your life in a different way.”
About His Experience at Agape Health Provider
Regarding his experience at our Agape auto accident clinic, Raúl has only positive things to say about this personal injury service.
“I felt like a patient and not a customer. The staff has a lot of experience and great humanity. I received a lot of attention and care from everyone. The therapies I did and that made a difference were varied: muscle stimulation, massages, ultrasounds, and weight exercises. It was several things, really.
I remember the first few days were horrible, and I couldn’t have survived them without the help of everyone at Agape.”
Additionally, thanks to the excellent medical treatment for personal injuries and the high professionalism and experience in handling medical diagnosis documentation along with therapies, Raúl’s lawyer had the necessary materials to win the case and secure significant compensation for him. While it won’t bring back his previous life, it will be a great source of encouragement to cope with his new life.
Auto Accidents in Florida
Auto accidents in Florida must be reported to the police if there is property or vehicle damage exceeding $500 or if someone is injured or killed.
After most accidents, drivers recover compensation for their medical bills and lost wages from their own auto insurance under Personal Injury Protection (PIP). If the injuries were severe, accident victims can file a claim against the other driver to recover additional compensation for collision-related injuries.
If you need more information about the medical and legal process following an auto accident, please contact us here: https://agapehealthprovider.com/contact-agape/
If you are interested about to know more car accident statistics in Miami, you can find more information here: https://www.city-data.com/accidents/acc-Miami-Florida.html
