Innumerable Canadians travel by road every year taking it for granted that they will be safe and secure. They do not realize the potential risks involved in traveling from one location to another. Although this confidence is well-placed, they are often not aware of the risks involved in such travel. As a consequence of this, a large number of people, both drivers as well as passengers, suffer injuries due to the recklessness or negligence of others.
If you or your loved ones are a victim of any such accident and would like to know more about what should be done, you can approach a car accident lawyer based in Toronto. You need to know that the party filing a claim has only 120 days to notify the driver at-fault of your intention to sue and two years to file a lawsuit. Therefore, it is very important for the injured, to consult a lawyer who is compassionate, to file the injury claim, at the earliest.
Every year, more than 36,000 car accidents take place in Ontario which demonstrates that the danger of driving on the roads must not be ignored. The speed of the vehicles, their weight, and physical forces can lead to many different types of collision that cannot be imagined. However, some forms of negligence are more frequent than others.
The most common type of accidents are related to a disregard of weather conditions, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, texting while driving, failure to obey traffic signals and exceeding posted speed limits and driver fatigue. They also include improper lane changes, distracted driving, defective design or manufacture of vehicles and their components, faulty maintenance or neglected maintenance and improperly loaded cargo.
Since every accident is different from the other, lawyers dealing with car crash injuries need to gather vital evidence meticulously while working with seasoned experts. Such an approach can increase the claimant’s chances of getting financial recovery and provide hope for speedy healing.
Common Car Accidents and dealing with Injuries
Car accidents often result in severe catastrophic injuries to the affected individuals. At times it is really challenging to fully compensate the victims due to the losses incurred by way of injuries and bodily damage. However, financial resources can help reduce the burdens to a certain extent. Injuries might include broken bones, spinal cord damage, paralysis, herniated discs, skin burns and disfigurements, limb amputations due to nerve damage, injuries to vital internal organs, traumatic brain injury and lasting cognitive impairment. They might even lead to torn ligaments, internal bleeding or death.
The first step to take after a car accident is to seek an assessment from a physician or a physiotherapist. Healthcare professionals will be able to identify the injuries that a person has suffered, whether it is a broken bone or a fracture. Most injuries have symptoms that can be identified promptly. However, whiplash may not always show symptoms immediately after the accident. One needs to look for the more common signs. Frequent headaches or migraines indicate injury and that there is a need for accident rehabilitation.
Symptoms such as prolonged fatigue and giddiness, a tingling sensation in the upper part of the body, reduced movement in the neck, and continuous pain in the head, neck or shoulders are suggestive of a larger problem and might result in further injuries later. If you are a victim of an accident and have any of the above symptoms, consult a healthcare professional right away.
Physiotherapy treatment can help in managing, relieving and overcoming pain and physical injuries due to a car crash and can promote the body’s healing processes. We use the latest tools and techniques that can help in providing you faster relief and recovery. For free consultation call us at 416-438-3230 or Text 416-628-8554, Simply Align Rehab – Cedarbrae Medical Centre: 3630 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1G 1P6
Victims of car crashes often incur huge losses due to the increasing expenses for rehabilitation, therapy and treatment after the event. They may have to make required modifications in their home, may have limited earning capacity in future or have incurred lost wages. Therefore, it is pertinent for those involved in serious car accidents to pursue and obtain the full amount of compensation available to them as per legal provisions. It is advisable to consult an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer for more details without any delay.
In order to understand how speed affects safety on the roads, we need to understand the most recent national data on car accidents, winter driving and pedestrian safety. Statistics show that 27% of traffic accidents on Canadian roads are directly caused by speeding. According to reports, the main cause of motorcycle fatalities is motorcycle speed which resulted in 12% of deaths (Carinsurance.net, 2020). Apparently 40% of these drivers were between the ages 16 and 24. 80% of young adult passengers killed in car crashes were driven by drivers of similar ages.
Statistics indicate that in 2011, one out of three speeding drivers (40%) of speeding drivers involved in a fatal car accident had been drinking. According to data from Transport Canada, teens are more likely to speed and allow shorter following distances. A 2019 survey of Canadian drivers found that only 27% of them do not drive well above the posted speed limit.
According to National data (Fortune, 2016), a 10-mph increase in speed can increase the risk of a car crash by 9.1%. However, teens do not consider driving 5 to 10 mph above the speed limit as dangerous (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 2019).
Car Accidents in Canada
Did you know that Canada has 160,000 car accidents every year, of which at least 2,800 are fatal (Canadian Transportation Safety Board, 2017)? Car accidents appear to be highest during the first year after drivers are given the license. About 22% of nearly 6,000,000 car accidents that take place every year in the US are due to weather conditions. Further, rear-end car accidents are more frequent, and form 30% of all car crashes. (NHTSA, 2017, Greg Monforton and Partners, 2020). It also reported that driver performance errors like a right-of-way error, sudden or improper stopping or braking, being unfamiliar with a roadway or vehicle, increased the risk of crashing by hundred times.
At least 1% of Canada’s annual Gross Domestic Product is lost due to crashes. Economic losses caused due to traffic collision-related health care costs and lost productivity are around $10 billion annually. In 2019, there were 174 railway crossing incidents, leading to 29 fatalities and 29 serious injuries. Ontario reported the highest number of incidents with 47 railway crossing incidents (27% of all in Canada) and 21 trespassing incidents (38% of all in Canada).Operation Lifesaver Canada, 2020.
Driving Ability
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 2019 reports that more than 90% of road accidents are the result of human error or condition.
Aggressive Driving
A web survey in 2017 found that 31% of Canadian drivers said that they had driven through a red light and around 29% of them admitted that they had disobeyed road signs while driving. In 2006 a survey found that 12% said that they drove well over the speed limit, 9% speeding up through a traffic light, 6% to using their horn when annoyed, 4% made rude gestures at other drivers while 3% took driving risks for fun.(Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 2006). Aggressive behaviour was significantly higher among young male drivers ages 19-39 (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2016).
Pedestrian Safety
Pedestrians are also at risk due to speed driving, AutoInsurance.org 2018 reports that pedestrians have a 90% chance of survival in a car crash at 30 km/h (19 mph) or less but 50% chance at higher speeds. A pedestrian hit at 32 km/h (20 mph) has a 10% chance of death, but if struck at 64 mph, the pedestrian has an 80% chance of dying. (Active Transportation Alliance, 2018)
Wildlife Safety
According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 2020, every year more than 45,000 collisions occur with wildlife. Automobile accidents also increase during the winter (Waterdown Collision, 2014). Statistics indicate that they increase by 3.1 to 4.7% during December-January and insurance claims increase by almost 49%. In 2010, environmental conditions were the major cause for 30% of vehicle collisions. About 5% of fatal accidents take place during snowfall.(Greg Monforton and Partners, 2020). In 2010 more than 500 crashes occurred due to snowdrift. Packed ice or snow was found in over 7,500 accidents (26% of total) and wet conditions, slush or loose snow were found in nearly 3,500 accidents (12% of total).
In 2020, nearly 1,500 accidents occurred during heavy snowfall, over 900 accidents during light snowfall and around 175 accidents during hail or sleet. Vehicle accidents related to weather kill more people every year in comparison to large-scale weather disasters (The Weather Channel, 2018). It is more challenging to stop a car on snow than on a dry pavement. (Geico Insurance, 2018). A four-wheel traction system can help a car move in snow and ice and provide additional control when turning. However, it does not help the vehicle to stop much faster than a front- or rear-wheel-drive car (US News & World Report, 2016)
Child Safety
Due to their size, infants and small children, are affected faster and dramatically in comparison to adults. A study by General Motors, Canada showed how within 20 minutes, an air-conditioned small car exposed to the sun on a 35°C day, exceeded 50° C and then soared to 65.5°C within 40 minutes. It showed the danger of making the inside of the vehicle dangerously hot. Further children under 5 are at the highest risk of injury due to vehicles backing up over them (KidsAndCars.org, 2018). More than 60% of such accidents occur when trucks or SUVs back up. More than 90% of drivers in Canada wear seat belts. However, drivers between 16 and 24 years use the seat belt least.(Safe Ride 4 Kids, 2018). (Source: https://tests.ca/driving-statistics/)
Benefits of Physiotherapy for Car Accident Patients
The first task one should do after a car accident is to seek an assessment from a physician or a physiotherapist. Physiotherapy supports speedy recovery for car accident patients. It helps patients overcome the pain, stiffness and impaired movement associated with accidents and enables them to resume their normal routine. Physiotherapy also acts as a preventive measure. By increasing flexibility, strength and mobility of the patient, it prevents further damage and complications. The sooner the treatment begins, the better for the patients as they will be able to enjoy a relatively pain-free life afterwards.
Physiotherapy can prevent long-term damage like migraine, severe pain and inability to walk. However, it is important to get the right type of treatment immediately or at the earliest. Delay in getting treatment can lead to long-term damage. If you are a victim of a car accident and have been suffering an injury, no matter how small, do not delay your treatment. Consult a physiotherapist right away and seek professional help. At Simply Align Rehab in Scarborough, we are equipped with the latest equipment and tools. We use techniques that provide you faster relief and are more effective in comparison to traditional techniques of physiotherapy and massage.
For free consultation call us at 416-438-3230 or Text 416-628-8554, Simply Align Rehab – Cedarbrae Medical Centre: 3630 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1G 1P6
