What Percentage of Drivers Have Been In an Accident?

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario reports that 378,490 Ontario drivers were involved in car accidents in 2016, out of 10,003,774 registered drivers in the province. Accordingly, about 3.78% of drivers were in an accident in Ontario in 2016.

The report also indicates that 55,493 individuals were injured in car accidents that year, and 579 individuals were killed.

Causes of Car Accidents

The percentage of drivers that have been in an accident in Ontario indicates that car accidents are a frequent occurrence here. These accidents may occur because of a variety of reasons, such as:

Driver Negligence

Many car accidents are caused by negligence. Motorists do not always pay attention or obey traffic laws. Negligent driver behaviour that may cause a car accident includes:

Inattentiveness, such as using a cellphone while driving
Intoxication
Speeding
Fatigue
Violating a traffic law

When another motorist violates traffic or criminal laws and causes you to sustain injuries in a collision, they may be liable for your damages.

Component Manufacturer Negligence

Not all car accidents are caused by driver negligence. Sometimes, there is a component failure that causes an accident regardless of how safely the driver is operating their vehicle.

Defects to parts such as tires or airbags may cause accidents or result in more severe injuries. If a defective part causes your accident, you may be able to pursue damages against the company that manufactured the part.

Mechanic Negligence

Other times, a vehicle system such as the steering or brakes may fail and cause an accident if it was improperly installed or maintained by a negligent mechanic. This could make the mechanic liable for your injuries.

Possible Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents may cause severe injuries that result in pain, hospitalization, and missed time from work.

Possible car accidents injuries include:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Internal injuries
Neck and back injuries
Organ damage
Broken bones
Lacerations and burns
And more

We recommend that you seek medical care immediately following any type of car accident. Accidents may be traumatizing and cause shock, which may temporarily mask symptoms of injuries. That makes it essential to obtain medical care, even if you do not recognize symptoms of an injury immediately.

Documenting your injuries with a doctor may also create a link between your accident and your injuries in your medical record that may be used as evidence if you pursue compensation.

Insurance Claims

You must notify your insurance company of your accident within seven days. Your insurance company may investigate the cause of your accident and may request copies of medical records, repair estimates for your vehicle, and the accident report.

When your insurance company determines responsibility, they may compare the details of your accident with Ontario’s Fault Determination Rules in R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 668. The Fault Determination Rules contain instructions for assigning fault to common accident types. When your accident matches an example, the insurance company uses a formula to calculate fault.

You may be found anywhere for 0% to 100% at fault.

Fault determination has nothing to do with how your insurance company may decide to classify your injuries which may affect how much receive in accident benefits.

If you disagree with how your insurance company assesses fault or classifies your injury, you may appeal the decision. If your economic losses exceed the amount that your insurance policy covers, you may be able to recover additional compensation from the responsible driver in a personal injury lawsuit.

Call Preszler Injury Lawyers Today

Injuries from a car accident may be catastrophic, traumatic, and disabling. Injuries may reduce your quality of life or prevent you from continuing to work. Medical bills may become excessive, especially if you need life time treatment or care.

If you are among the percentage of drivers that have been in an accident, Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to assist you. We may be able to help you pursue compensation after a car accident if:

You would like help negotiating for a settlement offer or filing a personal injury lawsuit
You disagree with the amount of fault your insurance company assigns you
You do not believe that an insurance company offered you a fair amount of compensation
Your damages exceed the limits of your insurance policy

If you suffered injuries in a car accident, call Preszler Injury Lawyers today at 1-800-JUSTICE to schedule a free initial consultation. A member of our team may be able to discuss our services and your legal options.

We may be able to represent you on a contingency-fee basis with no up-front payments required for our services.