Injuries Caused by San Diego Car Accidents

What Factors May Affect the Severity of Your Injuries

The injuries sustained in a car accident may vary considerably depending on a number of factors. This is an interesting subject to consider due to the fact that some victims of car accidents seem to miraculously avoid injury while others are severely injured in what seem to be minor collisions. As such, it is truly impossible to determine what extent or type of injury a driver or passenger may experience in a collision. There are a few factors, however, that may play a part. We will briefly review these in order to give you a better idea of what may occur as the result of a car accident. In addition to reviewing this information, we welcome you to call our offices to talk to a San Diego car accident attorney about your particular collision, injuries and concerns.

The force of impact. The force and speed of a collision may influence the extent of damage that a vehicle and its occupants experience. The general rule of thumb is that higher speed collisions will involve greater forces of impact and may therefore cause greater injury.
The "crashworthiness" of the vehicle. The way a vehicle is designed and the safety features it has, as well as how effective these safety features are, may all influence the injuries that a car accident victim sustains. For example, a vehicle with a poorly designed roof may cave in on a vehicle occupant during a collision, causing serious spinal cord injuries and possibly paralysis or death. A defective airbag may fail to deploy, meaning a driver or passenger will have more of a chance of experiencing severe physical trauma.
Whether the victim was wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts are one of the most important safety features in motor vehicles. All vehicle occupants are required to wear seatbelts, and for good reason. A driver or passenger who is not wearing a seatbelt may fly forward or to the side in a collision and collide with the dashboard or door of the vehicle. They may even be ejected from the vehicle, a life-threatening prospect in most collisions.
The respective size and weight of the vehicles involved. When two or more vehicles are involved in a car accident, the smaller vehicle is more likely to sustain the brunt of damage. This means that occupants of the smaller and lighter vehicle are more likely to be injured. For example, according to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) statistics from 2009, 76% of the people injured in truck accidents were occupants of another vehicle as opposed to truck occupants.
The location of impact on the vehicle. The location of impact on a motor vehicle may influence whether an occupant is injured and to what extent he or she is injured. For example, a head-on collision may cause the front of a vehicle to crumple in on its occupants, injuring the driver and front-seat passenger. A side-impact collision, however, may pose a greater threat to any occupants on that side of the vehicle.

Discuss Your Case with a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer

Ready to talk about your accident and injuries with a skilled lawyer? Scheduling a free consultation with a legal professional is a wise step to take. Attempting to handle your insurance claim and deal with questions by law enforcement or the other party's insurance provider can prove complicated and difficult. An attorney will know what to do and what to say to properly protect your interests and your right to maximum compensation, which may cover your medical treatment, lost earnings, damage to your vehicle and various other losses or expenses you have experienced.

Contact a San Diego car accident lawyer today. At the Law Office of Mark Bush, your financial, emotional and physical well-being are of the utmost importance to our team.