Accidents are not uncommon throughout West Virginia, and most vehicle accidents are caused by the careless or negligent actions of other drivers. Unfortunately, those who sustain injuries or property damage regularly struggle to recover the compensation they are entitled to. Here, we want to discuss West Virginia car accident statistics that you need to be aware of, and we hope that you can take the steps necessary to prevent vehicle accidents on our roadways.
What We Know About Vehicle Crashes in WV
While some states publish extensive data related to car accidents autistics, West Virginia is not one of them. In fact, finding reliable and up-to-date data regarding West Virginia car accident statistics is very challenging. When we turn to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, we can see that the most up-to-date data (on a state-run website) is a few years out of date.
To get a more accurate picture of the total car accident fatality and serious injury rate in West Virginia, we can turn to the Federal Highway Administration website. During the most recent reporting year (2019), we can see that there were 260 total traffic fatalities across West Virginia roadways. This was a decrease from 2018 and 2017, which saw 294 and 304 fatalities, respectively.
In 2019, there were 906 serious injuries caused by traffic collisions across the state. This was also a decrease from the 2018 and 2017 serious injury rates.
The FHA also states that there were 93 total non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries as a result of vehicle accidents. This can include collisions involving pedestrians, bicyclists, scooter riders, and other non-motorized vehicles.
Currently, there is no up-to-date data from 2020 or 2021. There may be some changes in the most recent data when it is published, likely due to the COVID-19 lockdowns and lower amounts of traffic on the roadways during specific periods of time.
Most Common Injuries Caused by West Virginia Traffic Collisions
Residents and visitors to West Virginia often sustain various types of injuries as a result of vehicle accidents. Some of the most common injuries that occur include:
- Severe bruising and contusions
- Lacerations and puncture wounds
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Other severe neck or back injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputation
- Internal organ damage
- Severe scarring or disfigurement
In addition to these visible traumatic injuries, West Virginia car accident victims can also suffer from significant emotional and psychological trauma. It is not uncommon for crash victims to suffer from prolonged feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety. Crash victims can also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Contact an Attorney for Help After a Crash
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a car accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver in West Virginia, reach out to the team at Salango Law, PLLC as soon as possible. When you have a skilled Charleston car accident lawyer by your side, you will have an advocate who can use their resources to handle every aspect of your claim. This includes investigating the incident, working to properly calculate total expected losses, and handling all negotiations on your behalf.