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Auto Injury Related Statistics




Minimum Accident Speed to Cause Injury

Studies involving live humans have demonstrated that a motor vehicle accident of as little as 5 mph can induce cervical (neck) injury. However, other studies have shown that cars can often withstand crashes of 10 mph or more without sustaining damage.

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Time for Symptoms to Present

Symptoms arising from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents were once thought to present immediately following the accident. However, research and clinic experience now demonstrate that a delay of symptom onset seems to be the norm. Also, delay of symptom onset does not eliminate the possibility of severe injury.

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Number of Disabilities from Automobile Accidents

Most experts have found that 10 percent of all motor vehicle accident victims become disabled.

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Symptom Resolution Statistics

Many studies have found a significant number of individuals to be symptomatic for many months and even years after a motor vehicle accident. In one such study, 75 percent of individuals remained symptomatic 6 months after the accident.

Another study, published in the European Spine Journal, found that during the period of time between the first and second years following a motor vehicle accident over 20 percent actually had their symptoms worsen.

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Number of Annual Motor Vehicle Accidents

According to the Transport Canada, there were more than 160 thousand motor vehicle accidents in Canada in 2009 which resulted in almost 173 thousand passenger injuries. 2200 fatalities occurred.

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Injury Severity in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Transport Canada also reported that of the 173 thousand injuries in 2009 from MVAs, 11,400 (6.6%)were considered to be serious but not fatal. Just over 158 thousand (91%) people incurred minor injuries in auto accidents in 2009. A 1990 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study reported found that about 28 percent of occupants in motor vehicle accidents incur minor to moderate injury while 6 percent incur severe to fatal injuries.

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Likelihood of being Involved in a Motor Vehicle Accident

The US Department of Transportation estimates that the typical driver will have a near automobile accident one to two times per month and all will be in a collision of some type on average of every 6 years.

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Annual Costs of Motor Vehicle Accidents

According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation of Canada the annual cost of road crashes is estimated to be $25 billion a year. This figure includes not only the direct and indirect costs, but also the estimated costs of pain and suffering.

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