Fact Sheet About Car Accident Injuries
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compiles statistics regarding automobile accidents in the United States, and the people who are affected by them as plaintiff or defendant. Some additional statistics regarding car accidents (according to the most recent available data) include:
- 33,561 fatalities were registered in 2012, which is the first time since 1995 that the number increased from the previous year – 32,479 in 2011. Previously, the number had been in steady decline.
- Pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities continue to make up a larger share of the total than in previous years, with 6-7% increases in each category.
- Injuries also increased from 2011-2012, rising from 75 per 100 million miles traveled to 80 per 100 million.
- Alcohol-related deaths and injuries made up 30% of all car accident fatalities.
Atlantic County has several major roads and highways, including the Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway, which creates a high volume of traffic. This creates high risk of accidents, and this is only made worse when drivers are intoxicated or negligent.
Car Accidents Incidents
The Atlantic County law firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. knows that any accident can be life-changing, and that most people need help to make it through the legal maze of paperwork and information requests.
Common Types of Injuries From Car Accidents
Car accidents and injuries from car accidents have multiple and varied causes, and the injuries they cause can often be critical and long-lasting, sometimes requiring surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation and years of recovery. Some of the most common include:
Head injuries
This is among the worst, most severe injuries to sustain. Head injuries often stem from blunt trauma. Very often, the people in the front seat of the vehicle will strike their head and suffer a brain injury, even if they are wearing a seatbelt, and strike their head on a window, dashboard or windshield. Head injuries can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), as well as skull fractures and contusions.
Back and neck injuries
Whiplash is the most common, usually occurring in side collisions when the head and neck are jerked sharply. It can cause significant damage to the spinal cord and the lower back muscles, ranging anywhere from simple strains to slipped disks and broken vertebrae.
Chest pain and heart problems
More common in people with preexisting heart problems, it is nonetheless not unheard of for people in general to experience heart attacks and arrhythmias after sustaining blunt trauma to the chest. Sometimes this can happen due to the sheer speed of the accident; other times a too-tight seat belt may play a role.
Emotional and mental trauma
Very often, people take car trips with friends and loved ones. If an accident occurs, they may develop severe emotional conditions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) even if they sustained no physical harm. This can be debilitating in its own right.
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The experienced Atlantic County car accident attorneys at Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. offer free consultations, so you can discuss your options before committing. Contact us at 215-567-3500 today.
Investigating Car Accidents Requires Resources
Car accident cases require a special investigation, even if the at fault driver admits liability – to do so almost always results in significant financial hardship. It is imperative to understand what that investigation may require, and what will need to be proven in order to receive appropriate compensation for your injuries.
The crux of the matter is proving that the other driver acted in a reckless or negligent manner, Witnesses can go a long way toward proving this, as well as other interested parties. While the statements of your passengers (or the driver, if you were not) are critical, those are not the only people who may have something to contribute to your case. Police officers, medical professionals and accident reconstruction specialists may be able to help you pin down events, or to conclusively rule out possible events.
Other proof will come from physical evidence at scene (the damage to all vehicles), photos and skid marks for example. Written records, and again, these can be varied and far-reaching, requiring the aid of several different parties, are also helpful. Accident reports will come from law enforcement personnel. Medical records will prove the extent of your injuries. Other documents like reports on the status of the terrain and the car may come from accident reconstruction professionals, and cell phone records (if texting or other distractions were a factor) from the relevant company. If you can prove the other driver breached their duty of care (that is, their duty to exercise reasonable prudence with regard to other people on the road), and that their breach was the cause of your injuries, you will be a in a strong position to prevail in a settlement or at trial.
Given how complex these cases can be, it is important to know you have a law firm on your side that has the time, talent and resources to prosecute them correctly.
Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C. offers a FREE CONSULTATION.
Contact us today to discuss how we can helpRed Bank
127 Maple Avenue
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: (732) 747-9003
Fax: (215) 567-6019
