We treat every individual case and client with a personalized approach, but sometimes it’s helpful to look at some of the larger trends that are going on with personal injury law. One interesting area is to look at statistics from New York State about emergency department visits, which are typically the first step that people take after suffering an accident. These statistics from NYS not only have the number of emergency department visits, but also some of the costs associated with those visits.
After suffering an accident, financial compensation is often the only remedy available for victims and their families. Additionally, many of the consequences of being in an accident are tied to finances; between missing work, unexpected medical expenses, a decreased ability to earn money in the future, all with interest added on.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident due to another person’s negligence, you deserve representation that will explore every avenue to get you the financial compensation that you need. We have an exemplary record of pushing back against insurance companies and corporations who try to take advantage of victims injured in accidents in the Hudson Valley, including Kingston and Poughkeepsie. Call us today at 845-600-0000 today to schedule a free consultation.
All of the statistics cited in this article are from the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention’s latest report on the “Medical Consequences of Motor Vehicle Crashes” for Ulster and Dutchess counties. Here are some of the things that we’ve noticed:
1. Being inside of a car is usually the safest place to be in a car accident
| Ulster # of E.D Visits |
Ulster Average E.D. Visit $ |
Dutchess # of E.D. Visits |
Dutchess Average E.D Visit $ |
|
| Bicyclists | 16 | $4,467 | 13 | $10,358 |
| Motorcyclists | 25 | $6,245 | 45 | $12,696 |
| Car Occupants | 961 | $4,238 | 1,712 | $4,552 |
| Pedestrians | 28 | $10,324 | 48 | $8,811 |
In both Ulster and Dutchess County, on average, the people inside a car during a car accident have less complicated and expensive emergency room visits than the other parties involved in a car accident, like bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
- Cars have lots of safety features that keep occupants safe, and the occupants of cars in accidents tend to have different, less severe kinds of injuries than bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians that get hit by cars.
- Car occupants can have a wide variety of injuries depending on the nature of the crash. Some of the most common injuries include whiplash, cuts, bruises, broken bones, back and spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries related to concussions.
- Motorcyclists tend to have injuries like traumatic brain injuries, broken bones and fractures, torn ligaments, road rash, spine and back injuries, and facial injuries.
- Bicyclists tend to have injuries like traumatic brain injuries, facial injuries, road rash, and broken bones and fractures.
- Pedestrians tend to have injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and serious fractures and broken bones.
2. Wearing a seatbelt may result in less serious and costly injuries
| Ulster # of E.D. Visits |
Ulster Average Cost |
Dutchess # of E.D. Visits |
Dutchess Average Cost |
|
| No Seatbelt | 37 | $8,924 | 47 | $11,866 |
| Yes Seatbelt | 911 | $4,023 | 1,599 | $4,379 |
There’s a very good reason that wearing a seatbelt is required by law. When you get into an accident, you have a much better chance of surviving, and if you’re injured, your injuries will be less severe and cost less to treat. This trend is reflected in our community.
According to the CDC, for drivers and front-seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and the risk of serious injury by 50%. People not wearing a seat belt are 30X more likely to be ejected from their vehicle during a crash, and seat belts can prevent passengers from being thrown around inside of a car and also evenly distribute crash forces across the body to prevent trauma.
Even if you are wearing a seatbelt in an accident, there are other kinds of injuries that may occur, although on average they are less severe than the injuries caused by not wearing a seatbelt. They may include fractures, spinal injury, and internal and vascular injuries.
Additionally, if you’re in an accident, not wearing a seatbelt may negatively impact the amount of money you’re able to recover for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and future enjoyment of life.
3. Passing/Lane Violations are the most harmful and expensive contributing factor for accidents
| Ulster # of Visits |
Ulster Average $ |
Dutchess # of Visits |
Dutchess Average $ |
|
| Driver Distraction | 278 | $3,333 | 522 | $3,895 |
| Failure to Yield | 230 | $3,300 | 390 | $4,444 |
| Following too Close | 200 | $2,626 | 360 | $3,213 |
| Passing/Lane Violations | 84 | $5,224 | 124 | $5,962 |
| Traffic Control Disregard | 50 | $4,479 | 159 | $3,992 |
In both Ulster and Dutchess County, on average, car occupants involved in accidents where vehicles were attempting to pass each other or change lanes sustained more expensive emergency department injuries than occupants involved in other kinds of accidents.
Some of the kinds of accidents that occur related to passing and lane violations include:
- Blind passes on winding roads
- Sideswiping another vehicle when attempting to pass
- Head-on collisions
- Not obeying painted road boundaries
4. Alcohol plays a role in one out of every thirty accidents
Of 22,828 accidents combined between Ulster and Dutchess County, 636 involved a party where alcohol was found to be a contributing factor.
5. Speed plays a role in one out of ten accidents
Of 22,828 accidents combined between Ulster and Dutchess County, speeding was a contributing factor in 2,353 of them.
6. Men tend to suffer more serious and expensive injuries in accidents
| Ulster # of E.D. Visits |
Ulster Average Cost |
Dutchess # of E.D. Visits |
Dutchess Average Cost |
|
| Male | 5,150 | $4,906 | 6,479 | $5,483 |
| Female | 4,433 | $4,120 | 5,885 | $4,260 |
Drivers and passengers who identify as male tend to get more accidents and more harmful and expensive accidents than women, despite the fact that according to the Federal Highway Administration, men and women equally hold driver’s licenses.
If you’ve suffered an injury as a result of an accident that involved a vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian, you deserve representation that will push back against insurance companies and corporations. Call us today at 845-600-000 today to schedule a free consultation in our offices in Kingston or Poughkeepsie.