Texas Automobile Accident

For most people a car accident can be a horrifying and traumatic experience, but what exactly should you do after being involved in a wreck?

Unfortunately, calling the emergency services, in most cases is the beginning of a whole list of things that must be done.

First and foremost you should be thinking about you and your passenger's safety. Take a deep breath, look around and check that everybody is ok. If you can get out, great. If not, don't panic. If nobody else is around use a cell phone and call the emergency services, or if the crash is minor, call the police directly.

Once you are out of the vehicle and everybody and everything is safe, head back inside and get your insurance details out of the glove compartment. It is important that you keep these details at hand along with a pad to take down notes. Modern motorists should also take a few photos of the accident with their phone for evidence if you should later need it.

Stay polite and offer any help to the other motorist(s), but ensure you get their insurance and license details down on that pad. Also, when the police arrive, make sure you obtain the officer's names and details, writing your own report of what happened simultaneously. Double check that they are actually writing an accident report.

Never wait before calling your insurance company. Gather your thoughts, jot down any notes or questions you may want to ask them and give them a call. Inform them of everything, no matter how trivial and hope for the best. You should be protected by state law if the accident wasn't your fault. If you are unsure about anything and the police are still on scene, they may be able to give some more insight from a legal standpoint.

Remember that each insurance policy is different so it is important to sift through the fine print to get a grasp of your coverage and your agreed declarations. It never hurts to ask if you don't understand something.

Lastly when it comes to getting your car fixed make sure you are aware of your rights. You should have full control over the repair process and some bargaining power with your insurance company in regards to the parts used (generic or manufacturer standard).

During all of this it is important to remain calm, polite and alert. Arguing and road rage only makes things worse in the long run and it could result in you being arrested, even with injuries.

To help develop new and safer cars, and to aid responsible driving campaigns, various car accident statistics are recorded throughout the year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) are the leading organizations for gathering car accident statistics and for helping to prevent injuries.

One common trend for many years is the increase in actual cars on the roads, raising the potential for car accidents due to the sheer number of drivers.

Here are some of the more shocking car accident statistics:

• Four people die every hour from car accidents.


• Every 14 seconds, a car crash results in some kind of injury.


• Around 63% of people who die in car accidents aren't wearing their seatbelts.


• 40% of car crash victims were drunk at the wheel.


• 25% of car accidents are caused by drivers talking on their cell phones.


• The leading cause of death among people aged 1 to 30 is car crash related.


• On US roads there are around 6 million car accidents a year.


• On average 40,000 of those crashes result in deaths.


• And 10,000 of those deaths are passengers.


• In 2005 there were 6,420,000 accidents in the US.


• Resulting in around 230 Billion dollars in damage.

Although all of these numbers are shockingly high, over the past three years there has been a decrease in the amount of fatalities as result of car accidents. This is usually attributed to an increase in safety technology, such as new seat belt designs and cars that can take more impact, not necessarily safer drivers themselves.

An interesting statistic is how the color of a car affects its risk of having an accident. Studies by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), suggest that cars with darker colors, such as black and blue crash more often than bright colors like white and yellow. Various other variables should be taken in to account and color isn't usually considered a major factor in causes of car accidents. For example, younger demographics crash more often, but are also more likely to buy a car that is blue in color.

For more information regarding car accident statistics it would be a good idea to research the following organizations:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)


• National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA)


• United States Department of Transportation (USDOT's)

Car accidents are life changing events and even if you make it out safe and sound, injuries can be long lasting. If you are lucky then you may escape with a few grazes and one horrible memory, but it is more likely you'll have some type of injury. Descriptions of the most common car accident injuries are below:

• Spinal Damage - Sitting upright and then having the sudden impact of a crash can cause damage to the spinal cord. Sometimes this can go undetected until old age, but in worst cases, it may cause paralysis. To help prevent this ensure your seat is at a comfortable position with plenty of leg room.


• Brain Trauma - Another life altering car accident injury is brain trauma. Again this has multiple levels of damage, from temporary to needing lifelong care. Head and brain trauma usually occurs when the head impacts the dashboard or the back of the front seats. Seatbelts and air bags should be used to help prevent serious damage.


• Back Injury - General back injuries are very common in car accidents. Your back has the largest surface area on the body and is open to the most impact. If the spine is ok then most back injuries can be treated with therapy and rest.


• Knee Injury - Knee injuries occur in car accidents when the legs become compressed between the pedals/dashboard and the seat. Surgeries on the knees are very common after car accidents, although most problems can be fixed with physiotherapy.


• Whiplash - The most common car accident injury is whiplash. The sudden halt of the car causes the head and neck to jolt forwards resulting in a sharp pain and possible short-term paralysis. The damage occurs when an unusual amount of force is put on the muscles and tendons in the neck, causing a pull or strain. The simple use of ice or massage usually gets rid of whiplash irritation.

These are some of the most common car accident injuries, although there are an unlimited amount of possible problems, from a broken toe to getting your hair torn in the seatbelt. If you follow the laws and guidelines you can at least help prevent injuries that cause long-term problems.

It's advisory to invest in some air bags in both the passenger and drivers side, always wear a seatbelt and check seats for any damage to be at your safest when driving.

The single most important car safety measure is the seat belt. This protective harness is used to prevent the motorist from impacting the inside of the car or being thrown from the vehicle during an accident. The scientific theory of inertia suggests that an object continues to move unless something blocks this motion. In other words your face and the windshield.

The concept of the seat belt was first developed in the 1800s, but was introduced to automobiles in the 1920s by academics who understood the need for one. In wouldn't be until 1955 and Ford's introduction of the seat belt as standard, that it became commonly used amongst the public.

It is now illegal in the US and many countries not to wear seat belts and you will still get a ticket for not wearing it correctly, (over the shoulder not under the arm). Studies conclude that wearing a seat belt under your arm can still cause you to be thrown through the windscreen during a collision, and you are 25 times more likely to die if your seat belt is not worn at all.

It is also not just you that may be at risk if your belt is not worn. If you are beltless in the back seat you may lunge forward and impact the seat in front, injuring another passenger.

According to a 2003 NHTS study, of the 16,210 car accidents that resulted in death or incapacitating injuries in the US, 64% of the motorists were not wearing seatbelts. The organization also states that 13,000 lives a year are saved from using the simple device.

Vanity is in human nature and many people argue that seat belts are uncomfortable or in some cases painful. In all modern cars belts are now designed so the motorist can have ease of movement but are still protected during an accident. A special locking mechanism only works when the belt is yanked sharply from the seat. If you happen to be driving an older car or generally find seatbelts irritating, you can buy cheap Velcro padding that can latch on to the belt making it cushioned around the shoulder and neck.

Belts are continually evolving and a recent innovation allows the car to detect the sudden use of breaks, in turn tightening the seat belt in case of a crash.

With the awareness and facts about seat belts so easily available, it would be selfish and stupid not to wear one, putting the rest of the general public in danger.

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