In 2023, motor vehicle crashes resulted in 5.1 million medically consulted injuries and 40,901 fatalities. The contributing factors to vehicle crashes include speeding, drunk driving, fatigue, reckless driving, and mechanical failures.
Victims of motor vehicle accidents endure physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial disruption. For example, a back injury can trigger chronic pain for months or years, affecting your quality of life.
You may be entitled to compensation if injured in a vehicle crash caused by someone else’s negligence. Even so, you must demonstrate how the negligent actions of the at-fault party contributed to the accident and damages.
You should, therefore, speak with a legal professional in the aftermath of a vehicle crash. A car accident lawyer can establish the facts and circumstances of the collision and initiate a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Key Takeaways
- Motor vehicle crashes cause millions of injuries and tens of thousands of deaths yearly.
- Speeding, impaired driving, and mechanical failures remain the leading contributors.
- Injuries can cause lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
- Compensation requires proving the at-fault party’s negligence.
- Insurance companies may dispute liability or undervalue claims.
- A motor vehicle accident lawyer can protect rights and build strong cases.
- Legal guidance maximizes your chance of fair compensation.
- Call a motor vehicle accident attorney for support during your compensation claim.
U.S. Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of preventable death and injury. In 2022, approximately 42,795 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, representing a slight decrease of about 0.3 percent compared to 2021.
The fatality rate decreased to 1.35 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles travelled in 2022, down from 1.37 in 2021. The slight improvement occurred despite Americans driving nearly one percent more miles than in 2021.
Motor vehicle fatalities represent the third largest cause of accidental deaths in the United States, with a particularly devastating impact on younger populations. For ages 5 to 67, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of preventable death before age 23 and the second leading cause after that age.
Between 1899 and 2022, nearly 4 million people died in traffic fatalities in the United States. Motor vehicle crashes kill over 100 people each day, making road safety a daily concern for millions of Americans.
Medical care costs and productivity losses from injuries and deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes exceeded $75 billion 2017.
Types of Injuries in a Motor Vehicle Accident
Motor vehicle accidents subject the human body to tremendous forces that can cause devastating injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.
The sudden acceleration, deceleration, and impact forces generated during collisions often exceed the body's ability to withstand trauma. Many injuries from vehicle crashes require immediate medical attention and long-term treatment.
Here are seven common types of injuries that can occur in motor vehicle accidents:
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a soft tissue injury when the neck is suddenly and forcefully jerked back and forth, commonly seen in rear-end collisions. Symptoms may include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and dizziness.
- Broken Bones: Motor vehicle accidents often result in broken bones, which can range from minor fractures to more severe, compound fractures. These injuries may require surgery, immobilization, and extensive rehabilitation.
- Head Injuries: Head injuries can vary from concussions to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), with symptoms ranging from minor confusion to long-term cognitive impairment. You should seek immediate medical attention for any head injury sustained in a car accident.
- Back Injuries: Back injuries, such as herniated discs or spinal cord damage, can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, and even paralysis. These injuries may require ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Internal Injuries: Internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding, may not be immediately apparent after a motor vehicle accident.
- Facial Injuries: Facial injuries, including lacerations, fractures, and dental damage, can result from the impact of a car accident. These injuries may require reconstructive surgery and ongoing dental care.
- Emotional Trauma: In addition to physical injuries, motor vehicle accidents can also cause emotional trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
You have a legal right to compensation if you sustain any above injuries in a motor vehicle crash. A motor vehicle accident lawyer can use medical records to prove the extent of your physical or emotional harm and support your compensation claim.
Can I Sue Someone for a Car Accident
While many car accident claims settle through insurance negotiations, certain circumstances require filing a lawsuit to protect your rights and secure fair compensation. You can explore litigation to enhance your chances of a positive outcome.
A motor vehicle accident attorney can evaluate your case and guide you through the legal process when insurance claims fall short of providing just compensation. Here are a few reasons to sue after a car accident:
Severe Injuries Requiring Extensive Treatment
When car accidents result in severe injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, or multiple fractures requiring surgery, insurance settlements rarely cover the full scope of damages.
Severe injuries often involve lengthy hospital stays, multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A motor vehicle accident attorney understands how to calculate the value of severe injury claims. They can estimate future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and long-term care needs.
They work with medical professionals to establish the full extent of your injuries and projected treatment costs. Most importantly, they’ll present compelling evidence before a judge and push for an adequate settlement or court award.
Permanent Disability
Accidents resulting in permanent disabilities require comprehensive legal action to secure adequate compensation for life-changing circumstances. Permanent disabilities cause a reduced earning capacity, quality of life, and the need for ongoing assistance with daily activities.
A motor vehicle accident lawyer can collaborate with vocationalists, life care planners, and economists to calculate the lifetime financial impact of permanent disabilities. They ensure settlements account for home modifications, specialized equipment, attendant care, and the emotional toll of permanently altered lives.
Bad Faith Insurance Practices
You can initiate a lawsuit when insurance companies engage in bad faith practices such as unreasonably delaying claims, denying valid claims without proper investigation, or misrepresenting policy coverage.
Bad faith practices violate insurance laws and may entitle victims to punitive damages beyond their losses. A skilled motor vehicle accident attorney recognizes bad faith tactics and knows how to build strong cases against insurance companies.
They can pursue additional damages for the emotional distress and financial hardship caused by the insurance company’s misconduct.
Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers
You can initiate legal action when at-fault drivers lack adequate insurance coverage to compensate for your damages. A motor vehicle accident lawsuit may be necessary to pursue their assets or trigger your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
A motor vehicle accident lawyer will work tirelessly so you can receive compensation from all possible sources, including your insurance policies designed to protect against inadequate coverage situations.
Low-Ball Settlement Offers
Insurance companies frequently make inadequate initial settlement offers, hoping victims will accept quick payments without objections. These low-ball offers rarely account for future medical needs, lost earning capacity, or the full extent of pain and suffering.
An experienced motor vehicle accident attorney can accurately value your claim and negotiate aggressively for fair compensation. When insurance companies refuse reasonable settlement demands, the threat of a lawsuit can force them to improve their offers.
Multiple Parties
Accidents involving multiple vehicles, commercial trucks, or government entities create complex liability scenarios requiring thorough investigation and potential litigation against multiple defendants.
A lawsuit can allow you to demonstrate each party's percentage of fault and pursue compensation for their contribution to fault.
A motor vehicle accident attorney has the resources to investigate complex accidents, identify all potentially liable parties, and pursue claims against multiple defendants. They ensure no responsible party escapes accountability and maximise your recovery from all available sources.
Disputed Fault or Liability
Litigation may be necessary when the other party disputes or denies responsibility. A motor vehicle accident lawyer can solve a case of disputed liability through comprehensive evidence gathering, professional testimony, and compelling legal arguments to prove negligence.
They can also counter defense arguments and ensure accurate fault determinations that support maximum compensation awards.
Defective or Unsafe Vehicles
You can initiate a product liability lawsuit against a manufacturer when accidents result from vehicle defects like faulty brakes, defective airbags, or unsafe designs. These cases require extensive technical knowledge and resources to prove design defects or manufacturing flaws that caused or contributed to your injuries.
A motor vehicle accident attorney can work with engineering professionals and product liability specialists to build strong cases against vehicle manufacturers. They also understand federal regulations and industry standards that hold manufacturers accountable for defective products that cause serious injuries.
How to Prove You Are Not at Fault in a Car Accident
You can prove a motor vehicle crash using the following sources of evidence:
- Gather Physical Evidence: Take comprehensive photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and the accident scene from multiple angles. Document skid marks, debris patterns, and final vehicle positions, as these details often reveal the sequence of events leading to impact.
- Secure Witness Statements: Bystanders at the crash scene provide testimony about what they observed before, during, and after the collision. Obtain contact information from witnesses and ask them to provide written statements describing what they saw. Their objective accounts can counter conflicting stories from the other driver.
- Obtain the Police Report: A report from a law enforcement officer includes their professional assessment of fault based on evidence, witness statements, and traffic law violations. While not always conclusive, police reports can help establish fault and liability in a crash.
- Preserve Electronic Evidence: Modern vehicles often contain electronic data recorders that capture speed, braking, and steering inputs before crashes. Traffic cameras, nearby security cameras, and cell phone records may also provide valuable evidence supporting your version of events.
- Document Traffic Violations: If the other driver violated traffic laws like running red lights, speeding, or failing to yield, this evidence strongly supports your innocence. Citations at the scene or traffic camera footage of violations can prove the other driver's negligence.
Protect Your Rights After a Car Accident
Medical bills and months of lost income can quickly lead to financial hardship. For example, a victim with multiple fractures cannot work for half a year, making it challenging to meet the financial obligations of the family.
Further, compensation is never guaranteed. Insurance companies may reject the claim, dispute liability, or offer a far less settlement than you deserve. A skilled motor vehicle accident attorney can step in to gather supportive evidence, counter insurer tactics, and fight for the maximum settlement.
You stand a better chance of securing fair compensation to rebuild your life with the proper legal representation. Contact a car accident lawyer for guidance after the crash.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should I Contact a Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer?
Contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer immediately after any collision involving injuries, wrongful death, or disputed fault. Don't delay if the other party's insurance denies your claim or offers inadequate compensation.
Early legal consultation can make a difference when dealing with commercial vehicles, multiple parties, or hit-and-run cases. A motor vehicle accident lawyer can offer free consultations to evaluate your case.
How Long Will My Case Take to Resolve?
Case resolution time varies depending on injury severity, liability disputes, and insurance cooperation. Simple cases may settle within months, while complex cases involving serious injuries or litigation can take one to three years.
Factors affecting the timeline include treatment completion, evidence gathering, negotiation duration, and court schedules. A motor vehicle accident lawyer can provide more specific estimates based on your case details.
How Do Insurance Companies Calculate Compensation?
Insurance companies calculate compensation using formulas that consider medical expenses, lost earnings, emotional distress, and pain and suffering multipliers. However, insurers often undervalue claims to protect profits.
They may downplay the claim, dispute the treatment plan, or rush settlements before you understand the full extent of your loss. A motor vehicle accident lawyer understands the full impact of an injury and fights to ensure you receive fair, just compensation.