Multiple Injuries After Wild Crash at Gas Station

Eighteen people were hurt after a pickup truck careened into three vehicles and a gasoline pump.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the wreck occurred near the corner of Woodman Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard in Panorama City. A pickup truck towing a concrete pumping trailer entered the station, hit three vehicles and knocked over a fuel pump, causing various injuries to multiple adults and several children. Ambulances took eighteen victims to local hospitals. Two others said they would get checked out on their own.

Investigators found no evidence of DUI, and the truck driver was not arrested, though detectives are continuing to look into the case.

Car Crash Injuries

Whiplash is one of the most common car crash injuries. This injury could happen even in a low speed parking lot collision.

Any jarring motion strains neck nerves that aren’t used to moving in such fashion. Initial whiplash symptoms include neck soreness and general disorientation. Unfortunately, these symptoms mimic accident shock. Therefore, many victims, and many doctors as well, don’t immediately treat whiplash. So, like all other head/neck injuries, the symptoms get worse.

These deteriorating symptoms include pain that radiates from the shoulders to the wrist and general neck stiffness. At that point, proper treatment is more critical than ever. These symptoms could become permanent.

Internal injuries are also common in low-speed collisions. The motion causes internal organs to bump against each other. A small amount of force could cause a serious injury, since these organs have no protective skin layer.

The resulting internal bleeding is a bit like a leaky faucet. The blood loss is so gradual that many doctors don’t see it, usually because they aren’t looking for it. However, those drops of blood quickly accumulate.

So, no matter how “minor” the crash is, always see a doctor. Only a medical professional can tell how badly you are, or aren’t, hurt.

Should I See a Lawyer After a Low-Speed Collision?

Only a doctor can evaluate your medical condition, and only a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer can evaluate your legal claim. As outlined above, even a low-speed collision could cause serious and lingering injuries. These injuries could add up to thousands of dollars in medical bills which, in most cases, group health insurance companies refuse to pay.

Legal action helps ensure that victims aren’t left holding a very large financial bag. Besides, victims are in complete control of the injury claim process. Anytime they want to pull the plug, they may do so.

Whiplash, internal bleeding, and other such injuries also significantly affect quality of life. These victims deserve compensation for these losses.

Low-speed collision claims also have a moral dimension. Many drivers don’t think such a crash is a big deal. It’s important to hold people accountable for the mistakes they make. SoCal would be a much better place to live if we all behaved this way.

Vehicle collisions usually cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim. Lawyers can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.