Speeding is a common occurrence on San Diego roads, making it challenging to avoid dangerous situations, even if you adhere to road rules. Sharing the road with reckless drivers is an unfortunate reality that significantly increases the likelihood of experiencing a catastrophic injury. The link between speeding and serious injury can be clearly demonstrated by the severity of the injuries that result from high-speed collisions.
Why Are High-Speed Collisions More Dangerous?
The speed at which a car is moving at the time of a collision has a significant impact on the severity of the injuries sustained by either party. Any property damage that results from a high-speed collision is also much worse than minor fender benders. The reason that high-speed collisions are so dangerous is because your body keeps moving at the same speed until it comes into sudden contact with an opposing force.
Regardless of whether you’re on your way to Pacific Beach for a relaxing day with your family or you’re on your way to one of the many office buildings in La Jolla for an important meeting, if a car is traveling down the Interstate 5 highway at 75mph, the driver’s body is also moving at 75mph. If the car then collides with another car, that forward motion stops suddenly, throwing the person into the closest immovable object, typically the interior of their car. In short, the faster you are moving, the harder the impact will be. High-speed collisions are, therefore, far more likely to result in catastrophic injuries.
What Are Catastrophic Injuries?
A catastrophic injury is defined as any physical injury that results in long-term or permanent disability or disfigurement. Such injuries may require extensive surgical procedures, specialized medical care, assistive devices, home adaptation, and lifelong use of prescription medication. Catastrophic injuries will permanently impact the injured person’s quality of life, independence, and financial stability.
Such severe injuries often require ongoing medical care and extended rehabilitation. Recovering from a catastrophic injury may take several months or years, and the patient usually never reaches the same level of health or ability as they had prior to the accident. Catastrophic injuries are life-altering, and high-speed collisions result in more catastrophic injuries than any other accident.
What Injuries Are Commonly Caused by High-Speed Collisions?
As we discussed, during an accident, your body continues to move at the speed you were traveling. The sudden, forceful impact jolts the body severely, leading to a host of potential injuries. While seatbelts and airbags may prevent you from directly striking the dashboard or ejecting from the vehicle, these devices can also cause injuries. Seatbelts can cause rib fractures, and airbags often result in facial fractures, burns, and lacerations.
The severity of injuries caused by a high-speed collision depends on several factors. If the vehicle that hits you is larger than your own vehicle, it can exacerbate the force of the impact due to weight. Your distance from the steering wheel and the size of your car’s seats can also affect how severe your injuries are.
The injuries caused by high-speed collisions can also result from any objects in the vehicle that are not secured. Loose objects can be launched into the air on collision, acting as dangerous projectiles. Laptops, suitcases, and umbrellas are common objects that cause severe penetrating and concussive injuries in car accidents.
Injuries sustained in high-speed collisions can vary significantly, but there are specific injuries that are more common in forceful collisions. Internal bleeding, organ damage, muscle tears, spinal damage, and traumatic brain injuries are typically the most concerning injuries as they can be fatal if they are not treated immediately. Traumatic amputations are a common occurrence in high-speed car accidents due to crush injuries.
Broken bones and lacerations are common in any accident, but the severity of these injuries is increased significantly in high-speed collisions. While all these injuries can happen at any time in any accident, the variable that affects their impact on the victim’s life is speed. Speed translates directly into force, and hitting a steering wheel at 75mph is entirely different from the mild concussion you may experience at 20mph.
What may be a short-lived concussion in a low-speed accident can be severe brain trauma in a high-speed accident. Brain injuries can lead to memory loss, permanent cognitive challenges, and behavioral changes. Permanent disabilities are far more likely in high-speed collisions, which is what makes them so dangerous. Speed is one of the most dangerous elements on the road, and every driver should be aware of their speed at all times.
What Are The Legal Repercussions of High-Speed Collisions?
A person who experiences a catastrophic injury as a result of another person’s negligent actions may pursue legal action. The damages that a high-speed collision victim incurs can be devastating, both financially and psychologically. Every driver has the duty to exercise care and caution on the road, for their own safety and the safety of others. Some of the damages that accident victims typically claim can include:
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Loss of consortium (benefits of familial or spousal relationships)
- Medical expenses and property repair costs
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and psychological trauma
Safeguard Your Future After a Catastrophic Injury
High-speed collisions can have truly devastating consequences that can result in profound changes to the way you live your life. The impact on your family and caretakers can also be severe and long-lasting. While legal proceedings can be intimidating, it’s critical to pursue a claim to protect your financial future. The team at HHJ Trial Attorneys is dedicated to supporting you and your loved ones throughout the process, so contact us today for expert legal guidance.
