| In 2001 alone, almost two million Americans | | | | accident. If one party was responsible for the |
| suffered an injury related to a vehicle crash, as | | | | accident that caused an auto accident injury, it is |
| there is a car accident on the roads of America | | | | vital to collect information regarding that party's |
| roughly every ten seconds. Poor driving by a | | | | vehicle, license plate and vehicle identification |
| negligent driver can be the cause of an accident, | | | | number (VIN), insurance information, and any |
| however crashes bay also be the result of a | | | | other important details. Taking pictures at the |
| design, manufacturing or installation flaw. Defective | | | | scene of an auto accident can also help determine |
| seatbelts, tires, brakes, roof structure and many | | | | the cause of an auto accident injury. |
| other parts of a vehicle can be the cause, or can | | | | The direct cause of an auto accident injury is not |
| contribute to an auto accident. "Automobile | | | | always immediately apparent after an accident |
| crashworthiness" then refers to a vehicle's | | | | has occured. For this reason, it is vital to collect as |
| effectiveness in prevent injury during an accident, | | | | much information as you can about the auto |
| or its lack thereof in some cases. | | | | accident and the conditions surrounding the event. |
| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | It is a good idea to contact your insurance |
| (NHTSA) research shows that the major causes | | | | company as soon as you can in order to inform |
| of injury inside a vehicle during a collision are, in | | | | them of your auto accident injury. Following an |
| descending order: steering wheel, instrument panel, | | | | auto accident injury, receiving rightful |
| doors, windshield, front roof pillar, glove box area, | | | | compensation for your injuries can be a |
| roof edges, and the roof itself. It is not surprising, | | | | complicated and long process. Securing the help of |
| then, that front-seat passengers are more likely | | | | a qualified and experienced personal injury |
| to be injured in an auto accident than rear-seat | | | | attorney who specializes in auto accident injury |
| passengers who are protected by the padding of | | | | can greatly strengthen your case. An experienced |
| the front seat backs. | | | | lawyer knows how to investigate your auto |
| NHTSA data also shows that 51 percent of | | | | accident injury in order to build a strong case that |
| motor vehicle deaths occur in head-on impacts, 27 | | | | will enable you to receive compensation for your |
| percent in side impacts, and only 4 percent in rear | | | | injuries. |
| impacts. Rollovers, however, are particularly lethal | | | | In order to prove that a defectively designed |
| because they are more likely to eject | | | | automobile caused an injury, lawyers must consult |
| unrestrained passengers from the vehicle than | | | | with top engineering experts to show how the |
| other types of collisions. Fatality rates are 25 | | | | injuries could have been prevented by proper |
| times higher for ejected passengers than for | | | | design. To prove these cases, testing and |
| those who remain in the vehicle. | | | | reconstruction of accident situations can include |
| When an auto accident injury occurs, it is | | | | state-of-the-art computer modeling and animation |
| important to take certain precautions and steps | | | | techniques, as well as real-life experiments. |
| immediately following the accident. The first step | | | | Automobile manufacturers defend |
| is to evaluate the health and safety of the | | | | crashworthiness claims vigorously, sparing no |
| individuals involved in the accident, especially those | | | | expense to attack the plaintiffs' evidence and |
| who might have suffered an auto accident injury. | | | | trying to blame drivers, weather, road conditions |
| It is important to call the police in order to have | | | | or any factor other than the car's design |
| an auto accident injury report completed. This | | | | problems for auto accident injuries. |
| provides an official account of the auto accident | | | | If you believe you have an automobile |
| and all pertinent details. | | | | crashworthiness law suit, contact an experienced |
| Following any auto accident injury, it is vital to | | | | unsafe products attorney today. Your |
| collect as much information from the involved | | | | crashworthiness lawyer will help you evaluate your |
| parties as possible, as well as to get statements | | | | claim and get the compensation you deserve. |
| from any individuals that may have witnessed the | | | | |