Close up of a man's casted arm with his totaled vehicle in the background

Car Accident Attorney: Injury Statistics

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Car accidents affect many people in the United States every year. For the year 2009 alone, there were 10.8 million motor vehicle accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in 2006 there were 2,575,000 injuries due to car accidents.

The campaign against drunk driving has been a strong one. Still, at what point is someone considered a drunk driver? The system is based on the amount of alcohol in your body. When blood alcohol concentration reaches 0.08 grams/deciliter then you’re considered to be a drunk driver. A quick look at the statistics involved:

  • According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the year 2010 there were 10,228 people killed because of a drunk driver.
  • For that same year this accounted for 31% of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities.
  • Another way to look at it is on average there was a drunk driving related accident every 51 minutes for 2010.

It’s not just drunk driving nowadays, but also distracted driving. This definition includes texting, grooming, eating, reading, using a navigation system, talking or adjusting the radio. The official government website, distraction.gov, reported that in 2010, 18% of accidents were due to distraction.

A Costly Endeavor

Even when somebody is not drunk, or distracted it is still possible to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. The costs can quickly add up. According to the US Department of Transportation, there are many costs to consider if you’re in a car accident:

  • Medical
  • Vehicle damage
  • Police report
  • Damage to personal property
  • Towing costs
  • Potential effects on insurance
  • Loss of revenue

These are some of your direct costs. There are indirect costs that could possibly include lost wages, missed meetings, childcare coverage, vehicle rental and other costs.

There is help available. Consider the breakdown of personal injury lawsuits for 2005. 52% of those lawsuits involved automobile accidents, and 61% of those plaintiffs won their case.

Of course, not everybody is going to get into a car accident, but it’s important to know you and your loved ones have options if it does. Consulting a personal injury attorney after a motor vehicle accident can help you get compensation you need. Contact Hales & Associates, Attorneys now.

Sources

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811606.pdf

http://legalfinancejournal.com/personal-injury-lawsuits-in-the-u-s-a-brief-look/

http://www.bjs.gov/

http://personal-injury.lawyers.com/blogs/archives/7001-personal-injury-attorneys-statistics.html

http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html

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