We all hear about car wrecks, motorcycle collisions, and semi-truck accidents in the news, but we hear about non-traffic auto accidents much less often — even though they can be just as serious.

Non-traffic auto accidents typically involve a single motor vehicle (although they can involve multiple cars as well) and take place on private property, private roads and drives, parking lots, or other structures where driving occurs off public roads. Examples of non-traffic auto accidents include back-over accidents (while the vehicle is driving in reverse) or a vehicle hitting a pedestrian in a driveway or parking lot. These accidents often include people who are not occupants of the car, such as bystanders, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

Non-Traffic Auto Accident Injuries and Fatalities

Due to a lack of public attention and media coverage, people tend to underestimate how often parking lot collisions and other non-traffic crashes occur. However, non-traffic auto accidents are surprisingly common, and they often cause moderate to severe injuries.

Every year, in fact, thousands of people die from severe injuries in these types of crashes. Between 2012 and 2014, 5,695 people died in non-traffic auto accidents (an average of 1,898 per year) according to a report by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). 34 percent of those who died were non-occupants of the vehicle or vehicles involved, meaning they were most likely pedestrians or cyclists.

In the same span of time (2012 through 2014), 92,000 people suffered injuries (both fatal and non-fatal) in non-traffic accidents. All told, these statistics indicate that approximately 257 people are injured or die each day in the United States because of a non-traffic auto accident.

(As a note, the NHTSA includes accidents in which a car falls on someone and carbon monoxide poisoning — whether intentional or accidental — in these statistics.)

Why Contact a Personal Injury Attorney?

Just because a crash occurs on private property or a parking lot doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow the proper procedures after an auto accident, including reporting what happened to the police, seeing a doctor for any injuries, and contacting the Pinder Plotkin Legal Team.

If your crash causes significant injuries or damages and you need to seek compensation through the legal system, it will help your case enormously if you have the proper documentation for the incident, including a crash report from your local police department and records for any medical attention or treatment you received related to the crash. If days, weeks, or even months pass by before you report the incident or go see the doctor, on the other hand, this can make it much more difficult to establish that the crash caused or contributed to your injuries or medical conditions.

If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident due to someone else’s negligence — regardless of where that accident occurred — then you may have a valid personal injury claim, and you need to consult an experienced attorney about your case as soon as possible.

Contact Pinder Plotkin for Auto Accident Representation

If you or someone you loved has suffered injuries or even died in a motor vehicle accident, contact the Pinder Plotkin Legal Team’s Parkville or Bel Air offices today. Our attorneys have years of experience representing clients in auto accident cases and other personal injury claims, and we’re prepared to fight aggressively in court to defend your rights.

We always offer free initial consultations for personal injury cases, so there’s no risk to speaking with us and receiving an honest and informed evaluation of your case. Call us at (410) 525-5337 or fill out our convenient online contact form to schedule your free consultation today.

References

Singh, S. (2016, August). Non-traffic surveillance: Fatality and injury statistics in non-traffic crashes, 2012 to 2014. (Report No. DOT HS 812 311). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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