Car collisions often result in injuries. The wounds could be minor, severe, or fatal depending on the crash impact. Not all collisions result in severe injuries, but they all cost the parties involved.

Car accidents take their toll on victims and their families psychologically and financially. Victims are sometimes unable to work or return to work after the car collision. They sometimes suffer from debilitating injuries that keep them handicapped for life. The essence of placing a cost on severe wounds resulting from traffic accidents is not to repay victims but to compensate them.

Types of Collisions

Car collisions are unpredictable. Therefore, the vehicles’ position during the crash determines the impact and the type of injuries sustained.  Should either you or your loved one suffer wounds from a vehicle accident, contact a personal injury attorney.

Here is a list of the different car collisions in the United States:

• Rear-End Collision

One car collides with another car’s back in this type of collision. The primary cause is tailgating. Other factors include speeding, panic stops, distracted driving, or bad road conditions due to weather.

• Sideswipe Collision 

This type of car collision occurs when one vehicle’s side collides with the side of another. It happens when a driver moves out of his lane into another motorist’s lane. It can also occur when a driver travels too close to parked vehicles.

• Head-On Collision

This type of car collision occurs when two vehicles traveling opposite directions collide into one another head-on. It is one of the most dangerous collisions as the impact can be fatal.

• Single-Car Crash

A solo car crash involves one driver. The vehicle either collides into an object or swerves off the road.

• Multiple Car Collision

This type of accident involves multiple cars. When two vehicles collide, one or two of them hits another, causing a chain-like reaction.

Types of Injuries in a Collision

Depending on the kind of car collision, injuries sustained range from minor cuts and bruises to severe and life-threatening injuries. Some wounds become apparent immediately after the accident, while some take days or weeks to become evident.

Common injuries resulting from collisions are:

• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Lacerations
• Knee injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Soft tissue damage
• Internal bleeding
• Cuts and scrapes

What Is a Severe Injury?

A severe injury is any physical wound that results in disfiguring lacerations that require multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery. It covers wounds that involve one or more broken bones and pose a threat to the victim’s life and health.

The following injuries are considered severe:

• An injury that leads to permanent blindness.
• Burns to not more than 50% of the body, causing disfigurement.
• Brachial plexus injury leading to loss of the use of a limb.

How To Determine the Cost of a Severe Injury

Car collisions are costly. They harm not just the victims but also their families and society. The cost to both parties could be high, mostly if victims’ injuries were fatal.

No one can accurately measure the cost of severe injuries or death. Insurance companies cannot place any dollar amount on the value of a person’s life, quality of life, or pain to loved ones. However, insurers use estimates to determine the cost of an injury based on the following:

• Death
• Severity of injury
• Wages and productivity losses
• Medical expenses
• Property damage
• Administrative expenses

What Is the Average Cost of a Severe Injury in a Car Collision?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there is a decrease in collisions resulting from severe injuries. On the other hand, the cost of damages is on the rise.

Annually, the cost of car collisions in the US is over $230 billion. Statistics from the National Safety Council reports show the average amount for an injury in a crash as follows:

Fatal injury: $1.5 million

Non-fatal injury: $80 700

Property damages: $9, 300

Other costs calculated depend on the type of accident, the severity of injuries suffered, who is at fault, and the collision cause. Also, to be considered are transport to the hospital, surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, and other measures to save a life.

Get a Personal Injury Lawyer Today!

As mentioned earlier, car collisions cost victims and their loved ones in so many ways. To ensure that you or your loved one get compensated adequately, get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer. At Pinder Plotkin, our team of attorneys has years of experience representing crash victims. Contact us today to schedule a free case review.