Statistics for Car Accidents in Ireland
According to the Road Safety Authority, 7,260 car occupants were seriously injured or killed as the result of car accidents in Ireland in 2009. The vast majority of victims in these car accidents were car drivers (73 per cent), but almost 2,000 passengers were injured as well – sometimes more severely than the driver. Some of these injuries will be due to the fact that only 46 per cent of rear seat passengers use seat belts (European Transport Safety Council survey 2006), but there are other factors to consider as well.
Passengers in general are less likely to be looking at traffic conditions as the car travels along. Consequently, when a car accident is imminent, an alert driver will automatically brace against impact, whereas a passenger may be totally unprepared. The fact that women are more likely to be passengers in cars driven by men is also a significant factor when talking about injuries from car accidents in Ireland.
It has been scientifically proven that the way in which women organise their seating positions actually makes them more susceptible to a whiplash injury – even as a passenger – added to which women have physically weaker soft tissues and muscles around the neck and spinal cord. Therefore, if two people are seated next to each other in a car which is rear-ended, it is more than likely that each will receive different levels of car accidents compensation – especially if one of the injured is a woman.
Discrepancies in Car Accident Compensation Claims
This is only one example of why a discrepancy may occur when two people have been involved in the same accident and sustained the same injury, but there are many more. We are often asked why Victim A receives more/less than Victim B, or why two people who have been similarly injured in separate accidents receive a different amount of car accidents compensation. Some of the points below will help explain this:
- The Extent of the Injury – People involved in similar car accidents in Ireland may sustain different levels of injury due to their physical strength. We have already seen (above) that women are more susceptible to whiplash injury than men, but people with stronger bones and a larger frame are likely to sustain the same extent of injury as somebody who is weaker.
- The Recovery Period – Again, stronger people may recover quicker and victims of car accidents who are in their youth will heal faster than an older person. The length of time it takes for a person to recover from their injuries is a major factor in a car accidents claim, particularly if the victim is unable to work and produce an income during and after their rehabilitation.
- Special Damages – As well as potentially claiming for a loss of income, there may be other costs you encounter due to being injured in a car accident. These could be expenses related to obtaining medical care or having transport arranged to take you to work if you are unable to drive. You may also need to collect your children from school or care for elderly relatives. Any costs that you incur when you have been injured in car accidents can be claimed back from the negligent party.
- Loss of Amenity – Sometimes you may even be able to include in a car accidents claim, compensation for things you are temporarily unable to do due to your injury. This is known as compensation for the deterioration in your quality of life and, if you are unable to pursue hobbies, sports activities and even a drink at the local with your friends, you may be able to integrate this factor into your car accidents claim.
- Psychological Injury – Car accidents can often be frightening experiences. Experts have agreed that young children may experience recurring nightmares after a particularly horrific accident and also that adults can suffer from a level of post traumatic stress disorder after experiencing a physical trauma. Furthermore, people who sustained injuries which have left them immobile – even temporarily – have been known to suffer from depression and anxiety.
As you can see, there are a number of factors which combine to make a car accidents compensation claim. In order to make sure that you receive your full entitlement after you have been injured in a car accident which was no your fault, it is in your best interests to speak with a specialist car accidents solicitor as soon as you have received treatment for your injuries.
Free Legal Advice
Being involved in car accidents can be a shocking experience, and even though no amount of car accidents compensation can truly make up for all the consequences of your injuries, the best approach is to leave the claims procedures to somebody who has years of experience in such matters while you focus on healing. This is why we have established a free legal advice service, which you are invited to contact if you have sustained an injury or loss in a car accident for which you were not wholly to blame.
In order to take advantage of our free legal advice service, simply enter your name and contact telephone number in the box below. A solicitor will call you back at a time which is convenient to you and answer any questions you may have about car accidents claims. Please note that you are under no obligation to proceed with a car accidents claim once you have spoken with us – we offer you impartial and practical advice which enables you to make an educated decision about whether you have a claim which is worth your while to pursue.