Each year, more than 125,000 crashes occur on Virginia roads. According to the Virginia Highway Safety Office, more than 65,000 people were hurt and more than 800 people were killed annually in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
These statistics are more than abstract numbers. You may be one of the people hurt or mourning the untimely death of a loved one, and you deserve to know why the accident happened, the extent of car crash injuries, what you may recover in a car accident case, and how to protect your car crash recovery.
Different Types of Car Wrecks
The way vehicles collide is important for two reasons. First, some injuries are more likely in specific types of accidents. Second, the way cars collide may be relevant to who caused the crash and, therefore, who should pay for accident damages.
Some different types of car crashes include:
Rear-end accidents.
Rear-end crashes are among the most common types of accidents and commonly occur when a driver follows another vehicle too closely.
Head-on collisions.
When a vehicle travels in the wrong lane, the front of two cars may collide in a head-on crash. Head-on collisions are not as common as rear-end wrecks, but they often result in fatalities and more significant injuries.
T-bone crashes.
These crashes commonly occur at intersections where one driver goes through the traffic signal or stop sign and hits the side of another vehicle.
Rollover wrecks.
Rollover crashes can be caused by a vehicle defect or driver negligence and cause catastrophic injuries.
Pedestrian or bicycle accidents.
Pedestrians and bicyclists are vulnerable to severe and life-ending injuries when they are hit by negligent drivers.
Common Causes of Car Crashes
The details of the accidents described above will differ, but many different types of car crashes share common causes, such as:
Drunk drivers.
Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs may have slower reaction times and take more risks on the road than other drivers. Alcohol-related crashes result in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries annually in Virginia.
Distracted drivers.
Distracted drivers who take their eyes of the road, hands off the wheel, or attention away from driving safely can cause dangerous crashes.
Drowsy drivers.
Tired drivers have slower reaction times and may be as dangerous as distracted or drunk drivers.
Reckless drivers.
Reckless driving is a crime in Virginia that can result in catastrophic crashes.
Speeding drivers.
Speeding causes more injuries and fatalities than drunk driving in Virginia, and it is one of the most common causes of car wrecks.
Aggressive drivers.
Drivers who are in a hurry, change lanes often, drive too closely to the vehicle in front of them, or are otherwise aggressive may cause crashes.
Inexperienced drivers.
Teen drivers or other newly licensed drivers may lack the experience to make smart decisions on the road.
Older drivers.
Elderly drivers may have slower reaction times, vision issues, or health problems that make safe driving difficult.
Additionally, mechanical problems and road conditions can cause a driver to lose control and a dangerous crash to occur.
Auto Accident Injuries
Some of the injuries you may suffer in a car crash include:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Whiplash
- Amputations
- Back injuries
- Burns
- Eye injuries
- Pregnancy complications
- Death
When someone else’s negligence causes your injury or your loved one’s death, then you may be able to make a legal recovery.
Car Accident Recoveries
Your Virginia car accident settlement or court award may include compensation for past and future:
Medical costs such as hospitalizations, surgeries, doctors’ visits, medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychological counseling, and adaptive equipment.
Lost income, including wages, bonuses, benefits, and income from self-employment.
Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience because of your accident injuries.
Out-of-pocket costs for any other expenses that you can prove were directly related to your accident or accident injuries.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Virginia Car Crash
You may be confident that someone else’s negligence caused your accident injury, but your recovery won’t be automatic. Instead, you will have to convince the insurance company or the court of the damages that you deserve. You can begin protecting your accident recovery right now by:
- Calling the police, if you are still at the accident scene
- Getting medical care
- Contacting a Fairfax car accident lawyer
Have You Been Injured In A Car Accident?
If you've been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Fairfax, Virginia car accident law office at 703.277.2811 to schedule your free consultation. We help clients throughout Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia and look forward to helping you.