Last updated on May 12, 2022
A vehicle accident may leave a driver or passenger pinned-in, unable to be easily removed from a car, truck, van or SUV. These collisions are exceptionally dangerous, as the driver or passenger may be seriously injured and trapped in the vehicle, making it more difficult for emergency personnel to perform life-saving medical care, along with the risk of the damaged vehicle catching on fire.
A pin-in accident can occur when the force of the impact flips the vehicle over, crushes the doors, the vehicle is pinned against a stationary object such as a guard rail, or a forceful rear-end accident compresses the front of the vehicle, or a head-on accident traps the driver and passenger when the dashboard is thrust back in the crash.
Injuries In Pinned-In Accidents
The time it takes to extract the injured person from the vehicle leads to added risk of severe injuries or death. Removing the injured person may require special equipment, called the “jaws of life” to extract the injured, which takes precious time. The types of injuries sustained when a person is pinned into the vehicle are often very serious, catastrophic or fatal and include:
- Broken bones
- Severe lacerations, cuts, bruises
- Disfiguring facial injuries
- Crush injuries, internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Knee, foot, ankle injuries
- Shoulder and upper body injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- TBI (traumatic brain injuries)
- Burns
Negligent Driving And Pinned-In Accidents
A vehicle operator is sharing the streets, roads, or highways in the Seattle area with all types of drivers – including those who operate their vehicles in a negligent manner. Driving conduct that is considered negligent can include:
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Wrong-way driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Traveling too fast for weather conditions
Who Is Liable?
After an accident in which an innocent person is injured, pinned into the vehicle, the liable party or parties must be identified. A full investigation of the crash will be performed by a police accident investigator. In some cases, a professional accident reconstruction expert may be needed, particularly in cases of multi-vehicle accidents. Every detail is fully examined, including skid marks, the condition and position of the vehicles, with further data gathered by interviewing eyewitnesses. In many cases, the responsible party is identified by law enforcement and can be held liable for the damages.
Compensatory Damages In A Pin-In Accident
The injured person may face many challenges, including the inability to work and earn a living, hospitalization, one or more surgeries and/or rehabilitation treatments. The value of an insurance settlement must reflect all the losses to the injured person, including:
- Economic losses: The costs associated with all medical treatment, nursing care, rehabilitation, lost income from work, lost earning capacity, transportation, medication and other actual losses.
- Noneconomic losses: These are the losses that impact the quality of life of the injured, such as pain and suffering, emotional anguish, loss of consortium and others.
Why Choose Us?
At Pendergast Law, we represent the injured in a range of car accident cases, including pinned-in accidents. Joseph E. Pendergast III is a highly respected personal injury lawyer who is a member of the elite Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, holds at “Superb” rating on Avvo and has been named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers list. Whether your case can be settled with the responsible party’s insurance company or must go to civil court to pursue fair compensation, your case will be in the hands of a seasoned litigator with exceptional trial skills.
Free Case Consultation – No Legal Fees Unless We Win
Call our firm toll-free at 888-539-9211 for a free consultation after you or a loved one was in a vehicle accident, was pinned in and sustained serious injuries. Call now.