According to the National Safety Council, nearly 5 million Americans suffer car collision injuries every year that cost the economy billions of dollars. Aside from the personal cost to injured motorists, the costs to society are staggering. Wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, vehicle damage, and employers’ uninsured charges are all costs of car accidents.
And the CDC estimates that every year, nearly 40,000 people are killed in motor vehicle traffic accidents in the United States. Traffic fatalities cost more than $55 billion annually in medical and lost-work expenditures, not to mention the enormous hardship on the victims’ families and friends.
Car Collision Injuries Cost
Car accidents can cause a variety of injuries, depending on the severity of the collision. Some injuries are minor and can be healed in a matter of days, whereas others can result in permanent damage or physical disability.
Common car collision injuries include whiplash, concussion, bone fractures, head injuries, and internal bleeding. The average cost for a serious car crash injury measured in medical expense, wage loss, and property damage exceeds $100,000. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the costs are even higher if you factor in quality-of-life issues. The NSC says such comprehensive costs can top $1 million for a serious car crash injury.
According to the CDC, an average of 3.4 million people visit hospital emergency departments for car collision injuries, and Americans cumulatively spend more than 1 million days in the hospital each year because of car accidents. The CDC reports that the average “car crash-related ED visit costs about $3,300 and each hospitalization costs about $57,000 over a person’s lifetime.”
Recovering Losses from Car Crash Injuries
The major causes of car accidents include drunk driving, speeding, running red lights, distracted driving, and fatigue. All of these causes are preventable, meaning that most crashes are caused by driver error. Our society provides a way for people to recover their losses through insurance – although Florida’s Personal Injury Protection law only provided a measure of financial protection. In cases of serious car collision injuries where insurance won’t cover losses, an accident victim can file a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent party.
A skilled and aggressive car accident attorney will fight to get you the settlement you deserve. If you’ve been injured in a car crash, you’ll want the best car accident injury attorneys you can get. Consider the Orlando car accident attorneys at the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm. We’ve been winning settlements for injured accident victims in Central Florida for 35 years. Call 866-730-1367 for a free consultation at one of our convenient Central Florida locations.
