Car Accidents

When you think of a car accident, you tend to think of cases when one car hits another. Car accidents cover a much broader range, however; a car accident occurs any time damage is caused by a car involving vehicles, people, or buildings. Car accidents cause thousands of deaths and millions of dollars in property damage each year. Worldwide, car accidents are estimated to kill over a million people a year. In 2002 and 2003 there were over car accidents per year in the U.S, and as a result of those car accidents there were almost three million injuries and over 42,000 people killed. In the U.S., car accidents remain the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 35.
Experts estimate that up to 90 percent of all car accidents are caused by driver negligence, and not by road conditions, equipment conditions, or other factors. In the United States, traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 35.
The most common injuries resulting from car accidents are:
Whiplash: A whiplash injury is caused when the head is swung violently backward and then forward, causing serious injury to the neck. Whiplash injuries are probably the most common injuries resulting from car accidents. Whiplash can cause injury to back joints, discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerves. Whiplash injuries can be short or long term. Statistics show that in approximately 10 percent of whiplash injuries due to car accidents, a long-term disability results.
Head and Brain Injury: Car accidents are a leading cause of head and traumatic brain injuries. Often brain injuries occur when the head hits the steering wheel or windshield. However, head and brain injuries can occur as part of a whiplash injury where there is no direct contact to the head. Damage to the brain may occur at the time of the car accident or develop over time as tissues swell and bleed within the head.
Concussion: Frequently car accidents cause concussions. The effects of a concussion can be headache, vomiting, dizziness, and difficulty remembering or concentrating. Usually concussions do not result in permanent injury.

Recent technological developments have helped to lessen the number of serious injuries due to car accidents. The use of more effective seat belts and shoulder harnesses, along with the installation of airbags, has significantly reduced the number of impact injuries resulting from car accidents. Other technologies are under development to reduce the number of and severity of car accidents:
Although many accidents are caused by behavior that is difficult to alter, by mechanical failure, or by road conditions, some technical solutions are becoming more widely available to prevent accidents:
• Proximity monitors: Sensors can detect how close a following car is to the car ahead, automatically adjusting the speed of the following car to maintain a safe distance. Proximity monitors can also be used to help prevent accidents in parking lots and other confined spaces.
• Sobriety detectors: Key devices have been developed that act as personal breathalyzers – if the owner is under the influence, the ignition key is deactivated.
• Drift monitors: Sensors can detect how close a car is to lane markers and if the car starts to drift can sound an alarm.

Who, statistically, is most likely to have car accidents? Drivers with less than one year of experience are most likely to be in car accidents. Males under 25 years old are the next most “risky” category.
What are the leading causes of car accidents: Here’s a breakdown:
• Excessive speed
• Frequent or unsafe lane changes
• Failure to signal
• Tailgating
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Disregarding traffic lights and signs
• Impaired driving

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2006