There are many car accidents that don’t result in any injuries, but just lead to property damage. These are sometimes called fender-benders, and cars may need to be repaired, but everyone walks away from the crash. Naturally, there are also many crashes with minor injuries, like bruises, lacerations and things of this nature.
But what is it that makes an accident more serious? Every year in the United States, there are around 40,000 fatal accidents. There are many more crashes that lead to catastrophic injuries. What are some of the factors that make these significant injuries more likely?
Size and weight
To begin with, look at the size and weight of the vehicles involved in the accident. If there’s a major difference, those in the smaller vehicle are more likely to suffer serious injuries.
One example of this is an underride accident, where a small vehicle like a convertible gets wedged underneath a larger vehicle, like a semi-truck. It is the size difference that makes this possible, and it can lead to head, neck and chest injuries for those in the smaller car.
Speed
On top of that, excessive speed just increases the odds that injuries will be fatal. Speeding can directly cause accidents – like when a driver loses control – but the true issues go beyond that. Speed also makes accidents worse. It makes fatalities more likely.
Why does it do this? A higher level of speed introduces more energy into the accident and makes the injuries more severe. The exact same crash is far more dangerous at 65 miles an hour than it is at 15 miles an hour.
Have you been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a car accident caused by another driver? You may deserve compensation for medical bills, last wages, funeral costs and more.
