A lot of attention gets paid to the immediate aftermath of serious car accidents. But, once the road is clear and the news cycle changes, the public tends to forget about what happened.

The accident's survivors are rarely that lucky. Many will have to live with the consequences of their catastrophic injuries for the rest of their lives.

In 2007, a 3 year-old boy named Tyler was nearly killed in car accident. Even though he was buckled in a car seat, he was ejected from his vehicle after it rolled at least seven times. Tyler spent four months in a coma in an Atlanta hospital - even when he started to wake up, doctors warned his parents that he would never lead a normal life.

Boy's Life Fraught With Trials

Tyler survived, and he's now 7 years old. He has progressed better than anyone ever expected, but his life is far from normal.

Tyler spends most of his time in braces that help keep his body stable. He cannot dress or bathe himself, and he has only a limited ability to eat on his own. His difficulties are largely the result of the traumatic brain injury he suffered in the car accident - the trauma damaged the nerves that control the arms and the legs.

As a result, Tyler's left arm is nearly unusable. He can walk some, but must use a wheelchair for long trips. He has to wear a helmet to school so he doesn't inadvertently make his injuries worse by bumping his head.

A lot of Tyler's recovery is due to his interminable spirit. The rest comes from extensive - and expensive - medical care. He has undergone several surgeries to repair his damaged limbs and will likely require several more in the future. Every three months, he travels to Atlanta to get injections to relax his muscles so that he can walk.

Tyler's case is a perfect example of why it is so important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney after a car accident in which someone suffers catastrophic injuries. A good lawyer can help identify all of the different avenues of recovery and can help make sure that victims of negligence have enough resources to pay for their future medical care.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, don't wait to get help. Talk to an Atlanta personal injury attorney who can work to protect your future.

Source: Dothan Eagle, "Surgery Gives Hope to Local Youth and His Family," Peggy Ussery, Dec. 25, 2011.