Blog

Car Crash 101: 7 Serious Post Car Crash Side Effects You Should Know About

June 9, 2020 by Ryan Pietrzak

Did you know that back in 2018, people in the US were almost 17 times more likely to die from heart disease than a car crash? After all, the odds of dying in a car crash back then were 1 in 106 while it was 1 in 6 for heart disease.

1 in 106 is still very high though. For instance, in 2019, fatal car crash incidents in the US killed an estimated 38,800 people.

At the very least, car crashes injure up to three million people in the country each year. Many of these injuries, unfortunately, are severe enough to be debilitating and long-term.

In this Car Crash 101 guide, we’ll talk about all these serious side-effects that a collision can lead to. So, be sure to keep your eyes glued to this page so that you’ll know what to do in case you get involved in one!

1. Whiplash Injuries

Some estimates put the rate of whiplash injury sufferers in the US at two million every year. Rear-end collisions aren’t the only cause, but they are some of the most common. For one, because these neck injuries can occur at speeds of as slow as five mph.

Whiplash injuries can happen in any situation that forces the head to move back and forth in a rapid motion. This sudden movement can tear or damage the soft tissues in the neck. As a result, the damaged tissues swell and can then exhibit symptoms such as soreness and pain.

Whiplash symptoms often occur within the first 24 hours after a car accident. However, they can appear days or even weeks later. What’s more, researchers say that, in some people, a full recovery can take up to three months!

Worse, up to 50% of whiplash patients are at risk of suffering from long-term complications. These include widespread pain, numbness, muscle weakness, headaches, fatigue, and even blurred vision.

2. Cervical Bone Fractures

About 800,000 Americans sustain car crash neck injuries, including whiplash, each year. These neck injuries include cervical bone fractures. They can occur when the neck gets exposed to trauma severe enough to damage the bones themselves.

That said, cervical fractures are breaks in one or more of the bones that make up the cervical spine. There are seven neck bones in this section of the spinal column. If any of these breaks, you’re most likely to suffer from swelling, tenderness, and severe pain.

3. Cervical Spinal Dislocation

Car accidents cause about half of all cervical spine injuries, including neck dislocation.

Cervical dislocation usually starts as an injury to the ligaments in the neck. From here, the injury causes two or more adjoining neck bones to separate from each other. As a result, the neck becomes unstable, leading to localized stiffness and pain in the neck.

Left untreated, however, cervical dislocation can render the entire spinal cord unstable. This is a life-threatening instability that warrants immediate medical attention.

4. Traumatic Head and Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries account for almost a third of all injury deaths in the US. These injuries occur after the head suffers a blow or a penetrating brain injury. A car crash, for instance, can send someone’s head banging against the dash or the windshield.

Even if there’s no penetration, a severe blow can shake the brain enough to disrupt its functions.

Some minor head or brain injuries, such as mild concussion, usually resolve on their own. However, the more serious ones can give rise to symptoms even decades after. In fact, as many as 5.3 million people in the US live with a disability that resulted from traumatic brain injuries.

5. Herniated Disc

Disc herniation occurs when the nucleus of a spinal disc “leaks” due to a rupture in the disc annulus. The nucleus is the fragile, jelly-like substance in the center of each spinal disc. The annulus, on the other hand, is the tough, rubbery band that covers the entire disc.

That said, it takes quite a lot of force for a disc to rupture, which is why aging is the most common cause of herniation. However, they can also happen due to severe force or trauma, such as in the case of car crashes.

What’s more, the symptoms of herniated discs may take time to appear. In a car crash study, for instance, one in five patients younger than 60 had no symptoms at first. Upon closer examination, their doctors found that they actually had a herniated disc!

6. Chest Injuries

Also known as thoracic trauma, chest injuries cause up to 35% of trauma deaths in the US every year. Vehicle collisions are the main cause of such injuries, causing up to 80% of blunt chest trauma cases.

Chest injuries in car collisions can occur when a person takes a serious blow to their chest. For instance, a crash can propel a driver not wearing a seatbelt toward the steering wheel. The force can then break one or more of the driver’s rib bones.

7. Chronic Pain

In one study, 26% of 161 patients reported moderate to severe pain six months after a car crash. In a separate study, over a third of patients who had chronic pain said their suffering is due to a car accident. In another study, 10% of car crash patients who had widespread pain still had symptoms one year after!

Car Crash 101 Takeaway: See a Doctor Right After a Traffic Accident

Based on all these scientific studies, vehicle collisions can result in long-term side-effects. These findings prove that crash injury symptoms can develop at a later time. Worse, they can stay hidden, even though they’re already wreaking havoc inside the body.

That said, the key takeaway in this Car Crash 101 guide is to never put off a doctor’s visit if you get into a crash. As soon as you can, pay a car accident specialist a visit to undergo extensive testing. This way, you can make sure that you don’t have any hidden injuries that may lead to long-term pain and suffering.

Ready for more of the latest car and driving news, laws, and guides? Feel free to check out our most recent blog posts then!

Accidental Injury Attorney: Do You Need One or Can You Do It Alone?

June 3, 2020 by Ryan Pietrzak

Tens of millions of non-fatal injuries occur via car accidents every year. Given that massive number, it seems inevitable that eventually, you’ll end up in a vehicle collision.

Since you’re reading this post, you may have already been affected by an accident and are wondering whether or not an accidental injury attorney is worth contacting.

In general, finding an injury lawyer after an accident is always a good idea. To know for sure if seeking representation is worth your time, consider the following questions.

1. Are You Injured?

We get that a fender-bender isn’t likely to lead you to run out and find a lawyer. If your accident was severe enough that you’re in pain, are experiencing reduced mobility, or are in any way inconvenienced by the event, legal assistance may be helpful.

Many times, we find that accident victims don’t feel the full physical effects of their accident until weeks after an event. By contacting an accidental injury attorney proactively, you cover yourself in case your condition worsens.

2. Is Your Ability to Work Likely to Be Affected?

The main reason why people need to receive settlements after an accident is because their injuries prevent them from working. When you think about the damage you incurred as a result of your accident, do you suspect your ability to make money is going to be affected?

If so, to the tune of how much? An injury lawyer can help you come up with that number and seek it in damages from an offending party.

3. Were Other Passengers Involved in Your Accident?

You may walk away from an accident feeling okay, but your passengers might not feel the same way. If those injured passengers can’t collect compensation from the other driver involved in your crash, they could come after you.

Covering yourself from potential damage seekers that you know is an often forgotten yet vital reason to consider contacting an attorney right after a car accident. You never know when and for what purpose you could use their guidance.

4. Was the Offending Motorist Uninsured?

Collecting damages from an opposing driver’s insurance company is easy enough and can be done without a lawyer (although a lawyer could help you receive more). When an offending driver is uninsured, though, things change.

You will need to sue a motorist if you plan on getting compensation and they don’t have coverage. You’ll almost certainly need an attorney’s help to do that effectively.

5. Do You Feel Confident Maximizing Your Settlement Alone?

At the end of the day, the most leading question that can help you decide whether or not to contact a lawyer is if you think you can maximize your accident settlement without legal assistance. Chances are, you can’t and will benefit from the help of a skilled law firm.

An Accidental Injury Attorney Can Provide Game-Changing, No Upfront Cost Services

By this point, you likely understand the value an accidental injury attorney can bring to your case.

What’s better than the value they provide is the fact that accident attorneys work entirely on commission. That means you won’t pay them a dime unless they get your a settlement.

With nothing to lose and everything to gain, we hope you seriously consider getting legal help after an accident and welcome you to read more of our blog content on the subject if you’d like additional guidance.

Vehicle Classification Guide: Passenger Vehicle vs Multipurpose Vehicle

January 28, 2020 by Ryan Pietrzak

What’s The Difference Between Passenger Vehicles and Multipurpose Vehicles?

Window tint laws vary from state to state, this means the tint law in each state are different depending on the type of motor vehicle you have. Motor vehicle safety standards are put in place to protect occupants by regulating window tint, braking systems, vehicle lights, tires, and a few others.

Where appropriate, window tinting regulations can be significantly different.

The difference all depends on whether you have a passenger vehicle or a multipurpose vehicle.

Passenger Vehicles (or Passenger Cars) vs Multipurpose Vehicles (MPVs)

Vehicle type is based on federal classification. Your vehicle is likely either a “Passenger Vehicle” or a “Multipurpose Vehicle”

Multi purpose vehicle picture — (MPV – Multipurpose Vehicle. As the name suggests, they mostly accommodate 7–8 people. They stand tall with good ground clearance but need not necessarily be as tall as an SUV.)

Passenger vehicle picture — (Passenger Vehicle. These vehicles typically accommodate 2-5 people. These are the most commonly identified as sedans or a vehicle that has only 2 rows..)

Identifying a Passenger Vehicle vs Multipurpose Vehicle

The best way to identify whether your vehicle is a passenger vehicle or multipurpose vehicle classification is to look for a Federal ID label.

This is the sticker/label that you see when you open your drivers side door.

This label also features your VIN (vehicle identification number) as well as information manufacturer information.

Which vehicles are “passenger cars”?

Passenger Cars, or Passenger Vehicles, federal vehicle classification includes: sedan, coupe, hatchback, convertible, station wagon, hardtop.

Law defines Passenger Cars as: Passenger car means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle, multipurpose passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer, designed for carrying 10 persons or less.

Passenger car federal id label — (This is your Federal ID Label. Your vehicle should have a similar one showing your federal vehicle classification. You can see near the top center portion of the label that this vehicle is classified as a “Passenger Car”)

Which vehicles are “multipurpose vehicles”?

Multipurpose vehicles are often also referred to as multi-passenger vehicles (MPV) and multipurpose passenger vehicles.

MPV classification includes: SUVs, recreational vehicles (RV), pickups, panels, vans, campers, minibuses, sport utility vehicles, and similar vehicles.

Law defines MPVs as: Multipurpose passenger vehicle means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle or trailer, designed to carry 10 persons or less which is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation. Features of occasional off-road use would be defined as 4-wheel drive, large all-purpose tires, high ground clearance, etc.

Mpv bottom right — (Your vehicle should have a similar one showing your federal vehicle classification. You can see near the bottom right portion of the label that this vehicle is classified as a “MPV”)

Determining Minimum Tint Transmittance Standards

Nhtsa manufacturer — National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) sets the standards for vehicle manufacturers.

A Minimum of 70% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) is required on vehicle’s windows, as based on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 (Glazing Materials – 49 CFR §571.205). The primary purpose of this requirement is to ensure adequate visibility through the windows, thereby reducing the risk of a motor vehicle crash.

So is having a vehicle with 70% light admittance is legal? This is not always the case. Most states do not permit any aftermarket tint to be installed due to most being factory tinted already meeting those standards. More often than not, tint laws are stricter on the front windshield. This is to meet safety standards and not hinder the drivers sight.

Different vehicle tint types — Applying any level of aftermarket tint may put your windows darker than 70% VLT (visible light transmission)

Not sure what your tint percentage is? Use can use a Tint Meter to find out the exact tint percentage. This is our preferrended tint tester, click here.

It is vital that you know the difference between manufactured/factory tint and aftermarket tinting.

Knowing the different kinds of window tint film is also important, check out this article that covers different tint films.

As stated before, many windows come tinted straight out of the manufacturer, it can be tinted darker than the state’s tinting laws in some cases.

If your vehicle is manufactured that way, your vehicle may be alright; varying from state to state.

Do not forget to read tint laws pertaining to your specific state.

7 benefits of tinted windows for your car

January 28, 2020 by Ryan Pietrzak

Did you know that there were nearly 750,000 motor vehicle theft incidents in 2022 alone?

Thieves are more likely to break into a vehicle if they see something valuable inside.

How can you prevent that?

Well, having tinted windows gives you more privacy and might reduce the likelihood of having your car broken into because malevolent people can’t see what’s inside.

But there are other benefits of window tinting, besides reducing car theft frequency.

Tinting your windows is a simple and affordable process that can be done on almost all cars.

We highly recommend consulting a local window tint specialist rather than do it yourself because properly tinting your windows is an art form.

If you are unsure of the window tint laws in your specific state we recommend you take advantage of our comprehensive list of all 50 states window tint laws.

Here are 7 key benefits that tinted windows can provide for your car:

1. Reduced Glare – Tinting blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays and greatly reduces glare from sunlight, allowing for improved visibility and less eye strain.

2. Cooler Interior – Tinted windows can prevent up to 60% of heat from entering the car, keeping the interior cooler and helping the AC work less to maintain comfort.

3. Protection From Sun Damage – Tint prevents the sun’s rays from fading and cracking the dashboard and upholstery. It protects you from sunburns and skin damage.

4. Increased Privacy – Darker tints make it harder to see inside the car, providing enhanced privacy, safety, and security for you and your belongings.

5. Reduced Shattering Risk – Window tint holds broken glass together in the event of an accident or break-in attempt. This improves safety.

6. Lower Insurance Costs – Some insurance companies offer discounts for tinted cars since tint provides security benefits.

7. Improved Looks – A professionally tinted car simply looks sleek and stylish. You can choose from many tint levels to get the right appearance.

So in summary, the major perks are cooler interior temperature, reduced glare, UV protection, privacy, safety against shattering, possible insurance discounts, and great aesthetics. Tinting is an affordable way to improve your car.

Here are 7 reasons that you should get your windows tinted as soon as possible:

1. Block the Damage Done by UV Rays

As you probably already know, the UV rays that come from the sun are a form of electromagnetic radiation. If you’re exposed to UV radiation for a lot of time, your skin might develop burns and aging signs will start to appear quicker. At the same time, UV radiation is also responsible for most skin cancers developed in people all over the world.

The good news is that tinted windows can prevent UV radiation from damaging your skin. Most window tint films designed for car windows block around 99% of UV radiation, so you’re basically safe inside, especially if you drive for many hours every day.

2. Window Tinting Offers Protection In Case of Accidents

No one wants to be involved in a car accident, but unfortunately, these happen every day. One of the main sources of injury for passengers consists of shattered glass. If an object hits the car windows and they break, the numerous glass pieces can cause scratches and other terrible injuries.

In this case, window tint can help because it creates a thin film around the glass which keeps the pieces together in case of impact. The glass will still break, but the shards remain together, they don’t spread all over the insides of your car. This is definitely a safety feature all drivers want to take advantage of.

3. Tinted Windows Prevent Upholstery Fading

Just as UV rays can affect your skin, it can also affect different other objects. For example, furniture items that are exposed to sunlight every day tend to fade in a couple of years and develop a pale color. The same story goes for your car upholstery as well.

If you’ve recently modified your car and added brand new upholstery, a window tint can protect your investment. The thin film applied on the windows of your car will prevent UV rays from fading your upholstery, so your vehicle will always look brand new!

4. Get Protection Against Excessive Solar Heat

The sun doesn’t only emit UV radiation, but also a great deal of warmth that will eventually build up inside your car during hot summer days. As a result, you’ll eventually have to use the air conditioner more often. This reduces the performance of your car and drastically affects fuel consumption.

You might be happy to find out that different types of window tint for vehicles prevent solar heat from building up inside your car. Tinted windows act as insulators for your automobile, keeping your car cool in warm seasons. As a result, you will feel much better when you get inside your car and won’t have to pay that much for fuel either.

5. Have A Safer Driving Experience Every Day

When it comes to a car window tint, the list of benefits doesn’t stop here. One of the most annoying things that can happen when you drive is having to deal with glare. Especially if you have forgotten your glasses at home, glare can really deteriorate your driving experience and even make you more prone to accidents.

Luckily, car window tinting is again the solution to this problem. It will stop most of the glare coming from the sun, allowing you to see better while driving. You’ll be able to easily discern traffic signs, oncoming vehicles, and pedestrians. Even if you don’t wear your sunglasses, tinted windows will make your driving experience a lot safer.

6. Enjoy More Privacy While Driving

The window films installed on a vehicle can give you more privacy while driving around town. It might seem like far-fetched, but what if you’re a famous person or you’re shuttling a VIP to a large concert hall or restaurant. You don’t want passersby to be able to recognize you, right? In this case, tinted windows can again save the day.

The beauty of car window films is that they prevent others from seeing what’s inside the vehicle, but not vice-versa. You’ll be able to clearly see the incoming traffic and pedestrians, so your visibility is not blocked in any way. Limo companies use tinted windows as a form of privacy for their customers all the time and because they are a MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) they are allowed to legally tint the back windows with an almost pitch black shade.

7. Window Tint Allows You to Customize Your Car

There’s yet another benefit of having tinted car windows. For example, did you know that these films come in various colors and shades? This gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to personalizing your vehicle. You can make the tint match the color of your car to create a seamless design.

Think of window tinting as a pair of sunglasses. Some sunglasses have light blue lenses, others might have dark red ones. You can shop around and go for car window tint that matches your preferences and desires. Also, if you’re worried that this might affect the resale price, don’t be. You can safely remove the tinting from the windows of your car before selling it and the process is pretty simple and straightforward.

Window tint allows you to customize your car

Now It’s The Right Time To Get Tinted Windows For Your Automobile

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits you can reap if you decide to get tinted windows for your car. Your investment is minimal and the level of comfort behind the steering wheel will definitely increase.

If you’re worried about legislation and what rules apply when it comes to window tinting in your area then don’t hesitate to consult our state specific window tinting guides. We offer law information for other states in America, so make sure that you explore our website thoroughly to find out more!