Personal Injury Statistics - Bryan Garrett PLLC in Oklahoma City

Accidents and personal injury incidents happen every day. Some are far more common and likely, while others are less common and rare, but no matter what walk of life someone is from, a personal injury can and will effect them at some point. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), an American is involved in a preventable incident resulting in injury every 3 minutes. These injuries range from minor through life threatening or even deadly.

Motor Vehicle Injuries

Motor vehicle incidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury in the United States. Of the roughly 222 million licensed drivers in America, 6.3 million were involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury or death in 2016 alone. The most common injury from a motor vehicle incident is whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the neck from a sudden change in movement. Momentum causes the neck to move back and forth rapidly, resulting in muscle and tendon injury. Concussions are also common with motor vehicle incidents. 14% of all concussions in America are the result of motor vehicle accidents. Texting and driving also leads to many incidences of personal injury. Over 1,000 people are injured as a result of a distracted texting driver every day. Distracted or intoxicated driving also results in a high number of injuries, with 1 drunk driving vehicle accident happening roughly every 50 minutes.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Roadway accidents involving motorcycles are also a major source of personal injury. 80% of all incidents involving a motorcycle result in injury or death. Because road conditions were designed with cars in mind instead of motorcycles, and the fact that motorcycles do not protect or shield the body of their operator, motorcycle accidents are far more likely to result in severe personal injury when compared to cars. In accidents involving both a motorcycle and a car, 2/3 of the incidents are a result of the car’s driver not following the laws relating to motorcycle right of way.

Slip and Fall Injuries

Personal injuries sustained from a slip and fall incident are remarkably common, with broken or fractured bones being the most common. Falling is the number 1 cause of nonfatal injuries in the United States. Hip bones are most frequently fractured in slip and fall accidents. Slip and fall accidents are the second most common cause of accidental death by injury, only surpassed by motor vehicle accidents. Slip and fall accidents are placed into two general categories, elevated falls and same level falls. Same level falls account for 65% of all slip and fall related personal injuries. Slip and fall incidents have a wide range of potential injuries, including bruising, concussions, and bone fractures. Slip and fall injuries most commonly affect the elderly, with 3 million older adults seeking medical treatment for a slip and fall related personal injury every year. 5% of all people who fall break or fracture a bone.

Workplace Injuries

There were 2.8 million nonfatal personal injuries in the workplace in 2017 alone, roughly one personal injury sustained every 7 seconds. The type of injury does vary depending on the sector of employment. Manufacturing positions frequently experience personal injury incidents, with 34,110 cases recorded of sprains, strains, and tears affecting muscles in 2017. Occupations involving agriculture, natural resources, and mining also see a large amount of workplace injuries.

Overview

Personal injury affects nearly all Americans at one point or another in their lives. Some can be prevented through careful precaution, while others are true uncontrollable accidents. Being aware of the most common forms of personal injury can make you more aware and conscious of your surroundings, and potentially prevent danger, injury, and harm.

If you have questions about personal injury laws in Oklahoma or how legal representation may benefit you, contact a personal injury attorney. Bryan Garrett is a personal injury attorney in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Call the law firm of Bryan Garrett today for a consultation. Bryan Garrett will fight for you!

Garret Law personal injury attorney in Oklahoma City

Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney By Your Side

If you have been hurt in an automobile accident or otherwise suffered damages, the aftermath can be every bit as traumatic as the accident itself. You are likely dealing with insurance companies at the same time as you may be receiving medical treatment. All the while, there are numerous challenges to your financial solvency that can arise because of the accident. This is not a time that you should be thinking of going it alone. A more sensible path would be retaining a personal injury attorney can help you through this process. Therefore, you should retain a personal injury attorney to represent you as soon as possible and should start by researching the best attorney for you.

Communicating With the Insurance Company

One of the first calls that you will have to make after an accident is to your insurance company. Your insurance company may not see things the same way as you. They have their own roster of attorneys working on their claims. These companies do not make money by paying out money. Thus, there may be disputes with your insurance company. A personal injury attorney can help you handle this matter. The personal injury attorney can handle the back-and-forth with the insurance company.

Helping Handle Medical Bills

Medical bills are a difficult area when you have had a car accident. It is not always apparent immediately who is responsible for these bills. While your health insurance may pay for some of these bills, there may be co-payments or a balance. This is an even more pressing issue if an emergency required you to be treated at an emergency room that is not in your health insurance’s network. In that instance, the bills must be paid first, even if the other driver’s insurance will ultimately pick up the tab. A personal injury attorney can negotiate on your behalf with your medical providers to perhaps either obtain for you a discount or a payment plan that will let you slowly pay off the balance. The personal injury attorney can also help you take the necessary action to recover your out-of-pocket costs if you were not the responsible party for the accident.

Negotiating A Better Settlement

There are approximately six million car accidents each year in the United States. An average of 90 people are killed each day on the roadways. The average accident settlement in the U S. is between $14,000 and $28,000. If there are serious and permanent injuries, the settlement will likely be much higher. Negotiating a settlement is not something that you should be attempting to accomplish on your own. A personal injury attorney will be able to apply the facts to the law and will have a better idea of the value of the claim. The insurance company is likely not going to make you their best offer first. This is all the more true if you are not represented by a personal injury attorney. When you hire a personal injury attorney, they should be adept at negotiating on your behalf with the insurance company. These companies deal with settlements on a daily basis and the average person does not.

Developing the Facts

Oftentimes, the facts surrounding your accident will be the determinant of whether or not you are compensated. However, you may not know what facts are most relevant. While many of the facts are developed at the scene of the accident, there is further factual development that takes place after the occurrence of the accident. This includes further talking to witnesses and taking pictures of the accident scene. A personal injury attorney will know what is important and have an understanding of how to develop the best possible record.

Representation at Trial

Finally, there is always a possibility that your case may become the subject of a lawsuit. Parties that are represented by a personal injury attorney will have a better chance of persuading a judge or jury of the merits of their case. Discovery and trials each have their own unique rules that are difficult to follow for those who are proceeding on their own. A personal injury attorney with experience will know the rules of the road when it comes to depositions and being in court in general. Simply stated, you do not want to venture into court without an experienced personal injury attorney by your side.

There are many reasons why you need to hire a personal injury attorney if you have been in an accident. Many fee arrangements with a personal injury attorney do not require you to pay anything unless there is a settlement or a recovery. If you have been in an accident, you should immediately begin to search for a personal injury attorney with the experience and reputation that can help you recover what you deserve after your accident. When you reach a personal injury attorney, you can have a straightforward discussion of your case, the legal process and your prospects for obtaining a settlement or a recovery.