Although all injuries can be potentially life-threatening, few are as traumatic as spinal cord injuries, which can literally transform the existence of the victim and their family, suddenly—and forever. The difficulties navigating what was once considered nothing more than an ordinary life can truly be unimaginable. Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries can be a common injury resulting from a motorcycle accident. Motorcycles have none of the protection that automobiles do—there is no steel cage, airbags and seat belt restraints to protect the body.
Unfortunately, intersection accidents are among the most common—and the deadliest—type of automobile accidents in the United States. People tend to believe that a yellow light simply means they should speed up rather than stop, meaning they generally end up in the intersection on a solid red light and are hit by a car whose driver rightfully believes they have the right of way. Some estimates put intersection accidents at a full one third of the total number of accidents, and although some cities have installed red light cameras in an attempt to lessen the number of intersection accidents, the numbers haven’t come down.
The sheer size of commercial trucks makes them a special hazard on the roadways of America. Part of the issue lies with the drivers of the smaller vehicles who lack understanding of the particular nature of trucks. Sharing the road with large commercial trucks requires being aware of both the capabilities as well as the limitations of the larger vehicle. While you may consider commercial trucks to be huge, noisy and downright scary at times, the fact is that over 80 percent of our communities in the United States depend on truck drivers to deliver the goods we use every day. Commercial trucks really are the backbone of our transportation system, and they are here to stay.
With any car collision there is a certain protocol you must follow, however if you were driving a rental car at the time of the accident, you will likely have a few more steps to take care of. It can be very traumatic to be involved in an automobile accident when you are in an unfamiliar city, driving an unfamiliar car, and most likely on vacation. Following the accident, you must first see to any injuries which drivers or passengers sustained. If anyone needs to go to the hospital, make sure they receive appropriate medical treatment. Many times people don’t think they are hurt as badly as they really are, due to the adrenaline which floods their body at the time of the accident. This adrenaline can mask pain and other symptoms of injury, then later on the person realizes the full extent of their injuries. Many people are also hesitant to go to an unfamiliar hospital, so they tell themselves (and others) they are fine.
Motorcycle accidents often result in serious facial lacerations for the motorcycle victim. After all, there is little to protect the motorcyclist from the 3000 plus pounds of metal and steel in a passenger vehicle. While many motorcycle accident victims receive severe or fatal injuries, including spinal cord injuries and brain trauma, these accidents also commonly result in facial lacerations and other facial injuries. Such injuries can lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement, and the emotions which accompany such tragic injuries can blend with the physical effects and become devastating, changing the victim’s future forever.
As you might imagine, any time a large commercial truck is involved in an accident there are likely to be serious injuries or fatalities, however when an 18-wheeler rolls over, the devastation can be truly tragic. In 2014, eleven percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths occurred in a large truck collision. Ninety-seven percent of vehicle occupants killed in a two-vehicle crash which involved a large truck and a passenger vehicle were occupants of the passenger vehicle. Trucking accidents take the lives of more than 5,000 people, each and every year in the United States however the majority of these accidents could be prevented. Rollovers happen quickly, leaving the truck driver and the drivers around him or her without sufficient time to react.
Perhaps you’ve recently heard a story on the news about a person who faithfully followed their GPS instructions only to find themselves in the middle of nowhere, stuck on a median after being told to make a U-turn, or even floating in a lake. You might have even chuckled to yourself about how ridiculous it seems for a person to let GPS instructions override their common sense. Unfortunately, there are many more GPS related car accidents that we hear about; your GPS can leave you stranded, involved in a serious accident and, in extreme cases, even dead.
Seven Effective Safety Features You Should Know About
Admittedly, when we are shopping for a new car, we are initially drawn to a shiny exterior, sleek design, or a great sound system. But, deep down, we all know there’s a lot more to it than showroom glitz and glam. Safety should always be at the forefront when making a decision about which vehicle to purchase, and we’re not just talking seat belts and anti-lock brakes these days.
Minor Impacts Can Lead to Major Injuries
Although it seems to be self-evident that greater injuries will occur when the speed and impact of a collision is greater, in truth this is not always the case. In many instances, even when the vehicle’s speed is relatively low and there is little to no damage to the vehicles, these minor impacts can lead to major injuries. In particular, neck injuries can occur during a minor bump-in, causing pain and problems for months or years to come. This phenomenon can be partially explained by the fact that in some vehicles the bumper to bumper chassis may have little to no crushing effect in a crash, yet the high G force could cause whiplash or other serious injuries to the driver and passengers. Unfortunately, the term “whiplash” has almost become synonymous with fraudulent, and this stigma can overshadow the very real consequences of whiplash injuries.
At least seventy-five percent of all motorcycle accidents result from a collision with another vehicle, and in well over half of these accidents the driver of the motor vehicle was directly responsible of violating the motorcyclist’s right-of-way. Intersections are the primary place motorcycle accidents happen, particularly when a motorist makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle. This miscalculation can lead to death or severe injury of the motorcyclist, whether it was caused from an inability to see the oncoming motorcycle rider or a belief on the driver’s part that he or she could be completely turned before the motorcyclist arrived at the intersection. If you’re the victim of a hit and run motorcycle accident in Colorado, our experienced attorneys can help you seek fair compensation.