Broken Glass Injuries
Broken glass causes some of the most painful and scarring car accident injuries, so in an effort to cut down on the number of lacerations sustained by car accident victims from flying glass, vehicle manufacturers began installing windshields that are designed not to shatter upon impact. Unfortunately, the design is not foolproof and many people are still injured by broken windows and windshields every year and must pay thousands of dollars in medical bills for treatment. Even after a wound has healed, many of these kinds of injuries leave victims disfigured or scarred, which can take an enormous physical and emotional toll on the injured parties. Fortunately, if an accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, the injured party may at least be able to collect compensation from the at-fault individual to help cover medical costs as well as lost wages.
Types of Injuries
Shattered glass can cause a number of different injuries, including:
- Cuts, which damage the skin, but do not penetrate into the tissue. Usually, these types of minor cuts only require minimal treatment, although stitches might be necessary in some cases.
- Deep level lacerations are much more serious than surface level cuts as they damage the skin, the underlying skin tissue, and the muscle. These types of injuries are more difficult to treat and often result in permanent disfigurement.
- Severed limbs can also occur if the piece of glass was large enough to penetrate all the way through to the bone. In other cases, a piece of glass may hit an artery, causing extreme blood loss and requiring the amputation of the affected limb.
Many broken glass injuries require surgical intervention. Victims may also suffer from a significant amount of pain and disfigurement, while also being more at-risk of infection.
Establishing Negligence
Those who suffer broken glass injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence may be able to collect compensation for their losses from the at-fault party. However, to be eligible for compensation, a plaintiff must demonstrate that:
- The defendant owed a duty to use reasonable care;
- The defendant breached that duty; and
- The plaintiff suffered an injury as a result of that breach.
Fortunately, even when injured parties contribute to their accident they are not barred from recovery. This is because Florida follows a system of comparative negligence, where the victim will still be able to collect damages, although the amount of recovery that a plaintiff can receive will be reduced by his or her percentage of fault.
Call us Today to Schedule a Consultation With an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney
Broken glass injuries can leave victims both physically and emotionally scarred. This means that many victims are not only required to pay expensive hospital bills, but are also forced to live with a permanent reminder of their injury. Accident victims can and should collect compensation for their losses, so if you suffered lacerations in a car crash, please contact Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale at 954-566-9919 to speak with a dedicated auto accident attorney who can evaluate your claim and address your concerns.
