A car accident can change your life forever
Life can change in an instant, never to be the same again. You think about things completely different after being in a car accident. For example, pre-accident people think of car insurance in terms of repairing their vehicle. After an accident, you are probably going to be more focused on repairing yourself.
And even if you're the sort of person who never imagined suing anyone, you might find that a lawsuit is the only way to make things right financially after your life was upended in an accident that should never have happened. Enjuris is here for those times. Check out the information and guides below, and if you're thinking about hiring a lawyer you can start safely with our attorney members.
Personal Injury Timeline (P.I.T.)
Car accident statistics
Auto accident data
- Reported car crashes: 6,296,000
- Fatalities: 35,092
- Alcohol-related crash fatalities: 9,306
- People injured: 2,443,000
- Speeding-related fatalities: 9,557 (27%)
- Pedestrians injured: 70,000
Per day
- People died in a car crash: 96
- Alcohol impaired crash deaths: 28
- People injured: 6,693
- Pedestrians injured: 192
Sources: NHTSA, IIHSHLDI, Texas Dept. of Public Safety, TTI
Distracted driving stats
- Drivers talking on phone at any moment: 7%
- Drivers doing something on phone right now: 10%
- No. 1 cause of teen drivers’ deaths: distracted driving
- Car crashes caused by distracted driving: nearly 1 in 4
On average, people who hired a lawyer received 4 to 5 times more compensation than those who didn’t. What’s more, you’re more likely to receive a payout when represented by an attorney.
| Type of injury | Average settlement WITHOUT a lawyer (1999) |
Average settlement WITHOUT a lawyer (adjusted for inflation 1999-2022) |
Average settlement WITH a lawyer | Average payout INCREASED by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broken bones | $19,105 | $32,241 | $66,486 | $34,245 |
| Average injury | $3,262 | $5,504 | $20,148 | $14,644 |
| Neck sprain | $2,480 | $4,185 | $13,362 | $9,177 |
| Minor cuts and bruises | $1,166 | $1,968 | $8,052 | $6,084 |
Note: Adjusted for inflation 1999-2022 (23 years, cumulative price change = 68.76%)
On average, the insurance payout for car crash victims with an attorney doubled or tripled, compared to those who settled without an attorney.
(Sources:
The Insurance Research Council's study, 1999)
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Did you know that car accident law varies by state?
Personal injury guides
Common injuries from car accidents
Brain injury
Whiplash
Spinal cord
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cervical spinal cord injuries
- Thoracic spinal cord injuries
- Lumbar spinal cord injuries
- Rehabilitation and therapy after a spinal cord injury
Distracted driving accidents
Auto insurance & your accident
- Out-of-state car accident jurisdiction
- Uninsured motorist coverage
- Accidents with underinsured or uninsured drivers
- All about independent medical examinations (IMEs)
- File bad faith lawsuit if your insurance company ignores/misleads you
- 5 steps to properly filing an insurance claim following a car accident
- Dealing with your car insurance company in an accident
- Dealing with insurance claims adjusters
- Can you sue for the diminished value of your car after a crash?
- Rent-A-Wreck: When does insurance cover your rental car?
- Understanding your car insurance policy: Key terms and coverage explained
Car accident types
- Rideshare car accidents: Liability & insurance requirements
- The 4 most common types of car accidents
- Hit and run drivers in automobile accidents
- Rear end accidents
- Side impact collisions
- Head on collisions
- Who’s at fault in a pile-up car crash?
- Receiving compensation after a single-vehicle accident
- When car accidents happen in rented vehicles
Drunk driving accidents
- Guide to drunk driving cases
- Blood alcohol content and the law
- Understanding your rights during a field sobriety test
- Dram shop laws: Can bars be held liable for drunk driving accidents?
- How much does a drunk driving accident cost?
- Protecting families: How Bentley's Law is curbing DUI impacts
General
- State-by-state laws & requirements for reporting a car accident
- What happens when an unlicensed driver causes a car accident?
- 5 obligations every driver on the road has
- What to do after a car accident if it’s not your fault
- Collecting car accident damages from a government agency
- 6 defensive driving practices that can save lives & money
- 4 ways motorcycle accidents are more complicated than cars
- A case for saying "crash" instead of car accident
- Dashcams are legal, but are they helpful?
- Car accidents caused by a sudden medical emergency while driving
- What is the seat belt defense, and when (and where) can it be used?
- The hidden risks of lending your vehicle: Negligent entrustment explained
My car accident story
My Car Accident Story: Mourning the Person I Used to Be
How being rear-ended in two car accidents changed a young woman's life forever...
Dawne’s Story: From Car Accident Survivor to Support Group Leader
How this one motor vehicle accident survivor decided to help others...
Careless Drivers Cause Major Trauma Even in Minor Car Accidents
After being rear-ended twice by distracted drivers, one woman shares her lessons learned...
Legal concepts in a car accident case
- What to do if you cause a car accident
- Car accidents: Statutes of limitations state by state
- Jurisdiction: Accidents that involve multiple states
- 3 simple methods you can use to prove fault in a car accident
- What you have to prove in a car accident negligence claim
Accident Report Form
Sample post-accident report form to keep in your glove box - fill out at the scene or as soon as you can after a car accident
Download in PDF format
Damages/Expenses Worksheet
Damages worksheet to track expenses for your injury claim (medical treatment, property damage, lost wages, prescriptions)
Download in PDF format
Car accident attorneys
How to find the right car accident attorney for you
Your First Meeting with an Attorney
A worksheet to prepare for your first meeting with a personal injury attorney – what to bring, what they'll ask
Download in PDF format
Personal Injury Attorney Interview Sheet
Worksheet with questions to ask a personal injury attorney to help determine if he or she will be a good fit for your case
Download in PDF format
Exploring women's injury issues
Exploring Women's Injury Issues
Posted by Locke & Quinn on Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Attorney Colleen M. Quinn and paralegal Katie Obermiller of Locke & Quinn discuss injuries unique to women. The show includes a special interview with Jennifer Kain Kilgore, attorney editor of Enjuris, about her severe injuries through two car accidents and in particular how the injuries and the legal process impacted her as a woman.
Support orgs: recovery after a car accident
- Coping with chronic pain & depression as a result of injury
- What has life been like for you since your accident?
Resources for emotional recovery after an accident
Read our complete guide to finding the right injury attorney for your case. Read insights from Enjuris attorneys and lawyers across the USA on when and why you need to hire a car accident attorney. Learn more