Mark Reed and Associate

In the year 2005 alone, a whopping two hundred billion dollars were lost to automobile accidents in the United States, and the figure has only increased ever since. The cost of human lives lost, families devastated and healthcare burden is beyond measure. What’s more, from tiny tots to people in their mid thirties are the ones most involved in auto accidents. That basically means that people who have just started out in their lives or are in the prime of their youth and productivity are made defunct or lose lives.

Precious human lives lost to automobile accidents are the leading cause for young deaths in almost all the fifty states of the nation. Productivity lost translated into economic terms will run into billions of dollars. Over five million people each year are rushed to emergency rooms of hospitals to take care of critically injured accident victims. A fair percentage of the severally injured also permanently lose one or more limbs or are incapacitated by the horrific internal and external wounds, that may take years to heal or may render them handicapped for life. Such cases are not only very tragic for the sufferer, but also put an enormous physical, emotional and financial burden on the family and caretakers.

Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, accounts for more than 32% of automobile accident related deaths in the United States. Alcohol levels of more than 0.8gm/dl found in the bloodstream of any offender is considered to be a crime under the laws of all states. Not surprisingly most alcohol impaired accidents take place during late Friday nights to the early hours of next Monday. This is the most critical and risk prone period of the week, when largely young and some not so young take to the streets for fun and frolics accentuated by heavy alcohol consumption in parties and events.

It is prudent to exercise restraint and drink in moderation before taking to the wheels. This ensures that you are responsible and caring for the safety and wellbeing of self and others who are also on the same street. Alcohol impaired driving puts the driver and other non suspecting vehicle drivers at great mortal risk, causing grievous injuries to all involved in the automobile accident.

A small percentage of automobile accidents also happen due to rash driving and by not adhering to traffic rules like stopping at lights, or jumping lanes. Some collateral damage like pedestrians being either knocked down to their deaths or grave injuries by speeding vehicles is also observed. If the vehicle drivers do not follow all the traffic rules like speed limits, one way traffic system, keeping in their lanes and observing traffic signals and signage, accidents occur.

Accidents also tend to happen if the vehicles are not road worthy or are not maintained properly resulting in brake failures and other such mishaps causing fatal accidents. Not only are the drivers at risk but also the occupants of such vehicles confront huge risks. They may be fatally wounded or die due to no fault of theirs. Responsible drivers are always careful about the safety of all concerned including their own, if they want to avoid getting into an automobile accident.  If you find yourself in an auto accident it is wise to contact the nearest Auto Accident Attorney immediately.  The sooner you contact them the more help they’ll be able to offer.

Brain injury is fast becoming a leading threat to the lives and well being of people in USA. In recent years surveys have shown that about 2 million people sustain brain injuries resulting in permanent disabilities and fatalities.

These debilitating and sometimes fatal injuries are caused by impacts on the head. Some of these blows cause only mild concussions and there is a pain in the injuref area for some days. This is a mild injury, but it is the more serious impacts where the head or face is fractured that are a cause for concern. This type of injury is called a traumatic brain injury or TBI.

Statistics gathered through recent surveys reveal the following:

• About 2 million people suffer from head injuries every year out of which 1.5 million suffer from reasonably mild injuries.
• Nearly 300,000 sustain serious injuries leading to hospitalization.
• About a 100,000 suffer from permanent disabilities.
• There are almost 56,000 fatal cases.
• 34% of deaths in USA are caused by head injuries annually.
• The ratio of men and women sustaining injuries to the brain is 2:1
• People in the 15 to 24 years age group suffer most head injuries followed by those above 60.
• Rural people are more prone to such injuries. The rate is almost twice that of urban people.
• 28% of TBI is caused by motor vehicle accidents; 20% is from sports and related activities; 9% due to assaults and other factors account for the rest 43%. But out of the very serious injuries almost half are caused by car accidents.
• 7% of all motor accidents and 41% of fatal accidents are alcohol related.
• A majority of people suffering from serious head injuries are unable to resume work.
• About 66% requires assistance in daily activities.
• Total expenses for TBI is about $50 billion a year in USA out of which fatal injuries cast about $17 billion.
• A TBI survivor’s average lifetime expenses would be around $150,000.
• A seriously injured survivor spends almost $4million in his lifetime.
• Average cost involved in fatal TBI is much higher at about $450,000.
• Rehabilitation costs approximately $1000 a day per person.

These statistics paint a scary picture and steps should be taken to prevent such injuries. In this the public and the authorities both have a role to play. As motor vehicles are involved most in serious head injuries which sometimes lead to death, more security measures should be adopted while driving. People riding two wheelers, without wearing a helmet are at the highest risk of suffering a brain injury.

Hence everyone should take care to wear a helmet at all times. The authorities an only create awareness, we have to implement it. Installation of airbags should be compulsory in all cars. Airbags reduce the risk of fatalities in an accident. People should not ride in a car without using the seat belt. This could save you from suffering grievous damages.

On a pleasant note, as more awareness is being created and new preventive measures are being implemented, the occurrence of permanent disabilities and fatalities due to a brain injury has considerably decreased over the recent years.