The Real Cost of a Severe Car Accident to Victims & Loved Ones
Can statistics properly capture the real cost of a severe car accident to victims and their loved ones? There are approximately 30,000 auto accidents that occur each year in the state of Maine according to the Maine Department of Transportation1.
Data from the Census Bureau shows that more than a hundred people in Maine died each year in fatal car accidents between 1990 and 20082. Studies show that motor vehicle crashes have resulted in an economic loss of hundreds of millions of dollars to the State of Maine3. These statistics are useful indicators of the general trends involving car accidents, but do not capture the personal toll that a severe car accident can have on victims and their loved ones.
Car accidents sometimes result in catastrophic injuries and in death. Victims of a car accident often have to deal with anger, fear, confusion and other emotions that accompany their injuries. A car crash that leads to a catastrophic injury can be life-altering and the victim may have to make major adjustments to his or her daily activities and routines. Recovery can require time and in some cases only a partial recovery may be possible. Victims and their families have to shoulder the costs for receiving specialized healthcare and rehabilitative treatment. They also have the tremendous burden of overcoming the loss of present and future earnings of the victim. The statistics do not and cannot quantify the individual personal struggles of car accident victims and their families.
What the statistics do show is that too many car accidents occur due to the improper conduct of others or under circumstances that are entirely preventable and avoidable. For example, in the State of Maine, 28% of fatal road accidents in 2008 involved a driver that was alcohol impaired. The lives of law abiding motorists and pedestrians can – in an instant – be affected by the careless choices of others who may be distracted by cell phones, driving too aggressively, too fast, or may be driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A car accident can also occur because of defects in the design of an automobile, the negligence of a third party such as a mechanic, and in some instances because of a government agency’s failure to properly design or maintain a roadway.
When a car accident occurs due to the improper actions of someone else, victims should consult with an experienced Maine injury attorney to find out whether they can be legally compensated for the injuries they have suffered. It is important to consult with an attorney in a timely fashion because there are statutes of limitations that create deadlines for filing suit and for serving notice on the party responsible for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident then contact us to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer at Marchese Injury Law. We can help you get your medical bills paid, and to fight the insurance companies for all the money you deserve. Call us toll-free at (888) 775-6042 or from local phones at 775-6042. Our offices are located at 477 Congress Street, Suite 1104, Portland, Maine, although we can meet you at other locations if more convenient to you.
1 https://www.marcheseinjurylaw.com/personal-injury/accidents/car-accident-lawyer-maine
2 http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1102.pdf
3 The Economic Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809446.PDF
