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Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of 1-34 year
olds in the U.S. Based on data from the U.S. Department of Transportation,
the total societal cost of crashes exceeds $150 billion annually.
The most common cause of injuries and fatalities seen in emergency
departments are from traffic accidents.
 An
estimated 6,356,000 car accidents occurred in the US in 2000. About
3.2 million people were injured and 41,821 people were killed in auto
accidents in 2000, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported fifty-two percent of
motor vehicle deaths in 2000 were car occupants. Twenty-four percent
were occupants of other kinds of passenger vehicles including pickups,
utility vehicles, and cargo/large vans.
Forty-one percent of car occupant deaths in 2000 occurred in single-vehicle
crashes, 59 percent in multiple-vehicle crashes. In contrast, percentages
for pickups and utility vehicles combined were 60 and 40 percent.
Single-vehicle crashes were highest among utility vehicles (65 percent).
Frontal impacts accounted for 49 percent of passenger vehicle occupant
deaths in 2000. Side impacts accounted for 30 percent (14 percent
right side, 16 percent left).
Crashes in which a vehicle rolled over, accounted for 31 percent of
passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2000 (54 percent of single-vehicle
crash deaths and 10 percent of multiple-vehicle crash deaths).
Causes of Crashes
Contributing to the death toll are alcohol, speed, lack of belt use
and various other driver behaviors plus the kinds of vehicles people
drive and the roads on which they travel.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug (DUI) is
the most frequently committed violent crime in our nation. (MADD)
In 2000, 16,653 people were killed in alcohol related crashes. In
1998, there were nearly 2 alcohol-related traffic deaths per hour,
44 per day and 306 per week. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related
crash at some time in their lives. In fact, more Americans have died
in alcohol-related traffic crashes than in all the wars the United
States has been involved in since our country was founded.
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Nationally, speed ranks second to alcohol as a contributing factor
in fatal crashes. In 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
estimated that fatal crashes in which speed was a contributing factor
killed 12,350 people in the U.S. Sleepy drivers also contribute to
about 100,000 motor vehicle crashes reported to police each year.
(National Safety Council)
What Happens in a Car Crash?
The Car Collision
At 30 mph, a car hitting an object that is not moving will crumple
in about two feet. As the car crushes, it absorbs some of the force
of the collision.
The Human Collision
At the moment of impact, passengers in the car are still traveling
at the vehicle‚s original speed. When the car comes to a complete
stop the passengers continue to be hurled forward until they come
in contact with some part of the automobile. People in the front seat
of a car are often hit by rear-seat passengers as they fly forward
with incredible force. In a 30 mph
crash, a 15 pound child can generate an impact force greater than
300 pounds!
The Internal Collision
In a crash, even after a human body comes to a complete stop, its
internal organs are still moving. Suddenly, these internal organs
slam into other organs or the skeletal system. This "internal
collision" is what often causes serious injury or death.
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Whose Fault is the Accident?
The investigating police try to do their best to gather important
information regarding the crash. Their report is important. Even if
they do not cite the other driver, Block 80 of the Ohio Traffic Crash
Report indicates the officer‚s opinion as to which vehicle caused
the accident.
Often, the other driver is not willing to admit that they could be
at fault in causing an accident. Often this is because they are concerned
that their insurance rates may go up if they are at fault.
Witnesses
If someone approaches you at the scene and indicates that they were
present, try to obtain their name and phone number.
Accident Reconstruction
In cases where fault is disputed, we can utilize an accident reconstruction
expert to evaluate the crash from skid marks, statements of witnesses,
and other evidence to establish that the other driver was at fault.
The Black Box
Many newer vehicles contain a black box that is part of the air bag
system. The black box can record important information about the crash.
The set of data saved after an event is often called a freeze frame,
and the triggering condition is called the event trigger. The saved
freeze frame from an air bag data event trigger can identify crash
timing, crash velocity, changes, seat belt usage, etc. An ABS (Automatic
Braking System) event trigger can identify wheel speeds, brake apply
status, ignition cycles, etc.
The combined data can provide vehicle conditions at the instant of
the crash.
This data can be obtained after the crash if the black box is preserved.
The black box needs to be obtained from the car before it is scrapped.
There are costs involved in obtaining the data from the black box.
Insurance
Once fault is determined, it is important that information regarding
all insurance policies and coverage is obtained. The other driver‚s
insurance, the owner of the other car‚s insurance, and if the
driver was in the scope of his or her job, their employer‚s insurance
would be important.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
A very important part of protecting yourself and your family is including
uninsured motorist coverage on your car policy. Approximately 13 percent
of all drivers on Ohio roads do not have auto insurance coverage.
(Insurance Research Council, 2001) And there were 11,269 uninsured
drivers involved in crashes in 2000, regardless of fault, according
to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Your car policy‚s uninsured
motorist provision will compensate you and your family, and then your
company will go after the uninsured driver.
Medical Care
Injuries that are directly related to the accident, including pain
and suffering, are compensatory under Ohio Law. Medical evidence is
important to both the insurance company and to a court in determining
the nature and extent of a person‚s injuries from an auto accident.
Conclusion
Gervelis is experienced in successfully handling auto accident cases.
If you have questions regarding a potential case, please call the
Gervelis Law Firm.
For more information regarding auto accidents, visit www.hwysafety.org
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