HOW DOES THE SPEED OF A CAR CRASH RELATE TO THE INJURIES SUFFERED?
The World Health Organization published a guide showing how car crash injuries are highly related to the vehicle speed at the time of car impact. This is a great starting point for understanding speed as it affects the total force during an accident.
Understanding the Impact of Speed in Car Accidents
We all remember the basic science: the faster a vehicle travels, the more kinetic energy it possesses. Simply put, a faster-moving object hits harder than the same object moving more slowly. Think back to high school science—speed times mass relates to force.
In a collision, this kinetic energy is transferred to the vehicles and their occupants, leading to more severe damage and injuries. Of course, it gets more complicated with factors like which car absorbs the most force, crumple zones, airbags, and so on.
Insurance companies primarily consider the speed of the car at the time of the crash and the extent of car damage to estimate the injuries sustained in a car accident. Without documented car damage, it becomes challenging to settle a personal injury claim for its full value.
World Health Organization and Car Accident Crash Speed
The World Health Organization gives you the “real” High School science.
The kinetic energy absorbed equals one half of mass multiplied by the square of velocity, illustrating how the effects of velocity greatly increase with higher speed. Bodily harm also depends on the shape and rigidity of the colliding object or surface, but velocity usually plays the most critical role. Translated - Speed matters a lot.
Insurance Companies Trust Car Damage Data
As personal injury attorneys, we often encounter situations where insurance companies argue that the visible car damage does not justify the severity of our client’s injuries. To counter this, we employ expert witnesses who can explain that car damage is not directly related to the kinetic energy transferred to the body during an accident.
Focusing on these issues is crucial, as insurance companies tend to discount the symptoms expressed by accident victims and rely on scientific studies that attempt to link vehicle damage to actual injuries.
Here is a part of an article titled Analysis of Crash Severity Based on Vehicle Damage and Occupant Injuries by Xiao Qin, Kai Wang, and Chase E. Cutler
The extent of vehicle damage, usually coded as from very severe to none, captures the degree of external deformation caused by the impact magnitude (5). In crash data, the description of a vehicle’s damage severity is more objective because the damage is more visible and the notations are usually more descriptive.
Our Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help
Our seasoned personal injury lawyers know exactly how the “other side” views car damage and injury claims. We meticulously document your injuries and craft detailed descriptions aimed at securing the highest possible settlement offers. Our team includes attorneys, paralegals with MBAs, and a licensed chiropractor to ensure your losses are comprehensively documented.
You won’t pay any fees until we recover money for you. Call us today—we’re here to help.