6 Factors that Affect the Severity of Car Accidents

Motor vehicles are crucial necessities for most Americans across the country. They provide a vital service allowing us the freedom to travel over large distances from one place to the next with little exertion on our part. When compared to the rest of the world, the United States ranks in the top five for most registered vehicles per capita. No wonder why so many roadways throughout the country can get backed up with so much traffic and congestion. There were an estimated 276 million registered vehicles in the United States in 2020 alone. 

Car accidents may not be at the forefront of your mind every time you get behind the wheel, but these incidents happen every day. Each day there are car accidents that cause severe, disabling injuries and some that result in death. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that on a daily basis, there are 90 lives lost somewhere in the U.S. from a deadly car accident. So, what makes one person’s injuries in a car accident more severe than another? Keep reading.

Factors that Impact the Severity of Injuries in a Car Accident

There is no magic formula that you can put into a computer to determine how severe your injuries will be if you are in a crash. The details of every crash are different, and the many variables that exist in a crash will contribute to the outcome. However, there are certain factors that can play a role in how badly someone will be injured should they be in a crash. These include the following:

1. Very little children and the elderly can suffer much more severe injuries than those who are young and strapping or middle-aged.
2. One’s health status can also be factored into how severe harm will be in a crash. A person in pristine health and with a strong body may be able to withstand more than someone that is frail or feeble.
3. Speed is an aggravating factor in car accidents. The faster the speed, the greater the likelihood that catastrophic outcomes will result.
4. Wearing a seatbelt is important, and several studies show that individuals who are not properly strapped in suffer greater physical bodily harm than those who are.
5. Larger, heavier cars offer more protection around occupants than smaller cars. So, if a larger car is hit with the same force as a smaller car, the larger car will be able to resist much more impact than the smaller vehicle.
6. How the crash took place. For example, rollover crashes tend to cause significant injuries and death.

Speak with a Florida Car Accident Attorney Today

Car accidents are hazardous and perilous for everyone. While many factors can be key in determining the severity of a crash, these incidents are unpredictable, and the outcomes can range from mild to fatal.

If you were in a car accident in Florida, you might be able to secure financial compensation for your damages. Call the Tampa car accident injury attorneys at Fulgencio Law at (813) 463-0123 to discuss your car accident experience during a complimentary consultation.