About highway traffic accidents: Frequently Asked Questions
How many car crashes are there in the US and how many people are killed or seriously injured
as a result of these?
On average, there are more than 6 million car crashes on the roads of the US, annually.
More than 3 million people are injured in car crashes, with more than 2 million of these
injuries being permanent.
What are some of the reasons for car crashes and fatalities?
In more than half of all car crashes fatalities, the deceased were found not to be wearing
their seat belts at the time of the crash. Even with seat belts being mandatory, a vast majority
of people choose to disregard this safety precaution and end up losing their lives because of it.
Many car crashes are caused by people talking to other passengers while driving, and others due
to drivers playing with the radio while driving. A large percentage is because of eating or
drinking while driving, and 25% of highway traffic accidents are caused due to talking on cell phones while at
the wheel of the car. These highway traffic accidents statistics are sad enough on their own, the saddest part
being that they could have easily been avoided had drivers been paying more attention to driving
and less to other activities.
What are the legal aspects regarding compensation for car crashes injuries/fatalities?
If you have been injured in a car crash, or have lost someone because of the crash, you can
file a case of personal injury or a wrongful death claim, as the case may be.
Those who are involved in car crashes, usually suffer serious injuries or death. Various types
of highway traffic accidents injuries include brain injury, injury to the spine, neck injuries, fractures and
broken bones, head injuries, etc.
Such serious injuries can often leave the victims in severe pain and discomfort, not to mention
making them disabled for life. highway traffic accidents injuries can also result in the loss of eyesight or
hearing. Even if your car crash injuries are treated properly, you may still end up with some
permanent disability or disfigurement.
What criteria must one meet to be eligible to make a claim for injuries, and what is
compensation paid out for?
The law entitles victims of car crashes to recover damages and compensation for their injuries
sustained in the auto crash. If you can fulfill the following conditions, you have a valid
personal injury claim.
Your injury is a direct result of the highway traffic accidents.
The car crashes were caused due to another person’s negligence or fault and not your own.
For a valid personal injury claim, proving negligence is the first step. The law does not allow
you to be compensated for your own fault, thus, you need to prove that the car crashes were someone
else’s fault and due to their negligence.
If fault can be established, you can recover compensation and damages for the following:
Medical expenses incurred in the treatment of your injuries.
Any future medical costs.
Compensation for actual loss of wages.
Loss of future wages.
Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life.
Damages for mental pain and anguish.
What about wrongful death eligibility and compensation breakdowns?
If you have lost a parent, spouse, or child to highway traffic accidents, you can file a wrongful death
claim against the negligent parties. Most states limit the people who can bring a claim of wrongful
death to those mentioned previously. In addition to the above, if you were financially dependant
on someone, you can bring a claim of wrongful death if that person was killed in a car accident,
even if you are not actually related to the deceased.
Here too, you need to establish that the death was caused due to the negligent actions of the
defendant and happened because of the highway traffic accidents. In a wrongful death claim, you are entitled to
receive damages for the following:
Loss of companionship
Loss of sexual relationships
Actual financial losses, if the person killed was the provider of the household or you were
dependant on them financially.
Mental pain and suffering
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