In January of 2003 it was determined that in the good ole‘ US of A, there were approximately 12.3 million motor vehicle accidents involving over 21 million vehicles in 2002. This amounts to a little over one crash per second. Let’s take a look at four of the most common of these gazillion impacts and the typical injuries they cause.
#1. LOW SPEED IMPACTS - - ESPECIALLY REAR-ENDERS: These are crashes that are considered to be any collision that takes place at speeds under 10 MPH. While there is absolutely no justification to call it a “Low Speed” impact that’s what the insurance industry loves to identify them as. Why ? Because a moniker like that is supposed to indicate that the, “so-called impact”, you were subjected to could not possibly have caused an injury.
It’s true that when such a crash does take place there’s often not a lot of damage done to the truck and yet, in most cases, people involved in these types of accidents more often than not suffer injuries - - neck injuries especially!
Although the insurance industry would like to have those making a claim think differently an injury can and absolutely does occur when a low impact collision takes place. The most common is identified as the “Whiplash”. This takes place when the occupant does not have the slightest idea about the impending collision so they can’t brace themselves by forcing their back and/or neck against the seat or headrest. Because of this their body gets whipped and snapped about something fierce.
Most bumpers are built to withstand up to a low impact crash without damage. This is not done to insure the safety of the occupant but rather to protect and limit the damage to the bumpers, keeping the cost of repair to a minimum. Many times vehicle to vehicle impacts can sustain a very minor impact before there’s recognizable damage to the truck. However, when the bumper doesn’t crumble and absorb the force of the impact, more of that crash is felt by the occupants.
IMMEDIATE INJURIES: The truck driver that’s been crashed into by another (even at very low speeds) is thrown forward with a severe jerking motion - - causing necks to snap and backs to twist. Because of this many “Soft Tissue” styled injuries take place, including multiple body bruises, plus chest and rib injuries.
In most cases adjusters attempt to deny the possibility of injuries in a low speed impact but research substantiates just the opposite! Sure, the truck will show little or no damage but the velocity and accompanying force have to be transferred somewhere, and that’s to those sitting in that truck. Motor vehicles are built to withstand such minor impacts - - the human body is not!
#2. FRONTAL COLLISIONS: In most frontal impacts the occupant’s can generally brace themselves because they’re usually aware of the collision they’re about to be subjected to. In Frontal Collisions the speed and weight of the vehicle play a role in the injuries of the occupant. (The more the truck crumbles at impact the less severe the injuries to the occupants).
In frontal impact collisions the speed and size of the truck determines the injuries that can take place. (And - - getting back to rear-end collisions for just a moment - - the striking vehicle not only undergoes a collapse, but transfers momentum to the truck that’s been struck. If there's an airbag it may or may not explode. This depends upon the rigidity of the vehicle that’s been struck).
IMMEDIATE INJURIES: Head and neck, back, spine, rib and clavicle, arms and legs, concussions, soft tissue, internal, dislocations, abrasions, cuts and bruises.
48 to 72 hours later: Headache, blurred vision, dizziness and loss of taste, smell or hearing. Also, difficulty breathing, blood in urine or stool, swelling, loss of motion and visualized bruising take place.
#3. SIDE IMPACT: Many times the occupants head will hit the side window and bounce off of it. There are no air bags nor bumpers, engines, etc., to help protect ones body or absorb the force of the impact.
IMMEDIATE INJURIES: Head and neck, arms & legs, soft tissue, dislocations, scrapes and bruises.
48 to 72 hours later: Pain, headache, blurred vision, dizziness, loss of taste, smell or hearing, numbness or tingling (and basically the same as those listed above) so, at the risk of being repetitious but because it’s so important, I must say once again: It’s of major importance that the truck driver that's exposed to impact - - no matter how slight it may seem to have been - - should immediately be examined by a medical professional.
#4. ROLL-OVER ACCIDENTS: As we all know the typical roll-over accident is deadly serious. ! The most common factors in these types of accidents are approaching a curve at too high a speed, leaving the pavement or highway, or over-correcting the steering wheel. The severity of injuries to the occupants generally depends on the beginning velocity of speed, the number of rolls, condition of the vehicle, and what your truck rolled through, over and into!
Damage to the vehicle is generally extensive. It has been determined that 60% of the economic costs from truck roll-overs resulted from occupant ejection, and that the initial roll-over speed was between 40 to 60 MPH. (A recent study reported that restrained occupants showed a higher proportion of neck injuries than the unrestrained).
ACCIDENT IMPACT RESULTS
FROM 2002 THROUGH MID-2005
By: Dan Baldyga
It has been determined that in 2002 nonfatal accidents affected 23.7 million individuals who were forced to obtain medical attention for an injury. That comes to just about 1 in 12!
In 2002 Motor-vehicle crashes were the most costly workmen’s compensation claims. Insured‘s “Reported” crashes of a motor vehicle (when American’s were on-the-job and/or driving while working) caused 27,558 injuries.
It has now been learned that in the United States, the motor vehicle death total was up a full 2%, in 2003. That brought the death total to 44,800. PLUS: In that same year, of 2003, there were also 2,400,000 disabling motor vehicle accident injuries.
THREE OF THE MOST ROUTINE ACCIDENT CLAIMS IN 2003 WERE
#1. A Collision With Another Motor Vehicle: 1,780,00 nonfatal injuries and 19,900 deaths.
#2. Hitting A Pedestrian: 80,000 non-fatal injuries and 5,600 deaths.
#3. The Motor Vehicle Striking A Fixed Object: 400,000 nonfatal injuries and 13,000 deaths.FOUR “SPEED FACTS” THAT HAVE NOW PROVED TO BE TRUE
FOUR ACCIDENT CLAIM FACTS THAT HAVE EMERGED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
#1. Speeding was a factor in 30% of the fatal crashes in 2001.
#2. Excessive speed reduces a driver’s ability to respond to unexpected road hazards, and increases the distance needed for braking. PLUS: It increases the severity of a crash.
#3. By the end of 2005 the economic cost of speeding to society is going to exceed 40 billion dollars a year.
#4. It has been determined that in 2002 speed, excessive land changing, following too close and running a red light were associated with 1/3rd of traffic crashes and 2/3rds of the fatal crash's.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE EFFECT OF ABOLISHING THE NATIONAL SPEED LIMIT? Since Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit in 1995, 44 states have raised their speed limits, but only those sates on certain portions of their roads.
IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Results prove that crashes have increased in those states that raised their speed limits.
The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety just reported a 20% increase in motor vehicle accident deaths in the 24 states that were foolish enough to raise their speed limits.
Deaths did not increase in those states where the speed limits were not raised.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines “Speeding” as, “Exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions”.
For drivers involved in fatal crashes, young males are most likely to be speeding. Records show that the likelihood of a person involved in a speed related crash decreases as the driver’s age increase‘s. (In 2001, 36% of the male drivers, between the ages of 15 to 20, who were involved in fatal crashes, were speeding at the time).
The higher the speed, the greater the risk of serious injury or death in a crash. Increasing speed increases the severity of the crash.
IMMEDIATE INJURIES: The whole nine yards - all of those as detailed above.
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The bottom line (to all 4 of the above) is that in all motor vehicle accidents - - no matter how minor the damage it’s of the greatest importance that each and every truck driver immediately visit a medical professional for a physical examination and/or consultation.
If you find yourself at the scene of an accident and somebody asks if you think they should see a doctor, your answer should always be, "ABSOLUTELY " ! Stare straight into their eyeballs and tell them, “It’s your body. There’s only one to a customer. You should do whatever you can to take care of it and protect it”.
DISCLAIMER: This article ~ TRUCK ACCIDENT INSURANCE CLAIM ~ REGARDING IMPACTS AND INJURIES is intended for background information only. Its purpose is to help people understand the truck accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor TRUCKINFO.NETmake any guarantee of any kind whatsoever NOR purports to engage in rendering any professional or legal service, substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. where such professional help is desired IT IS THE INDIVIDUAL’ RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN IT.
Dan Baldyga’s third and latest book, AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at: http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com. This book reveals “How To” successfully handle your motor vehicle accident claim, so you won’t be taken advantage of. It also goes into detail regarding the revolutionary BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident Settlement Evaluation Formula). BASE explains how to determine the value of the “Pain and Suffering” you endured - - because of your personal injury.
Copyright (c) 2003 by Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved
