Accidents and collisions on the road can cause serious injuries that may overturn the lives of victims. Aside from physical suffering, road crash victims could also deal with anxiety and emotional distress due to medical costs and lost work opportunities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that annually, around 20 million to 50 million people around the world suffer injuries due to road crashes. Additionally, many victims suffered serious injuries, leading them to incur a disability.
Risk factors due to various parties
The WHO mentioned several risk factors of road crashes, including the manufacture of unsafe vehicles and the design of dangerous road infrastructure. The drivers are also at fault for some risk factors, such as:
- Not using safety devices: Drivers who disregard the importance of using seat belts, motorcycle helmets and child restraints are at higher risk of suffering injuries in a road crash.
- Distracted driving: This involves distractions such as eating, drinking, losing focus or having rowdy passengers. At present, the most pressing distraction is the use of cellphones.
- Speeding: There is a direct relation between faster speeds and the chances of speeding being the cause a crash. In addition, faster speeds may also affect if the consequences of a crash would be more severe.
- Driving under the influence: There is a higher risk of crashes resulting in deaths or serious injuries when the accident involves driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Furthermore, other risk factors are caused by law enforcement agencies and medical emergency providers. With regard to traffic laws, the WHO said that agencies may improve on their inadequate enforcement. As for medical care, delays in providing treatments could worsen the conditions of victims. Therefore, providers may enhance their procedures for post-crash care.
Pursuing compensation and recovery
Recovering from a road crash takes a lot of resilience and fortitude. In Tennessee, you only have one year from the accident to seek damages for personal injury. Moreover, you may pursue compensation for lost income, physical pains, and emotional and mental suffering so that you can have a better recovery.