A motor vehicle accident may cause serious injuries that could take weeks, months or years to fully recover from. Furthermore, if you’re involved in a crash while traveling on a New Jersey highway, you may incur thousands of dollars in property damage. Therefore, it’s important to understand the conditions that increase your chances of getting into an accident so that you may be able to avoid them.
Factors that enhance the risk of an accident occurring
Speed, poor road conditions and driver impairment are all common factors in motor vehicle collisions. Driving after dark may also increase your risk of getting into a crash because it can be harder to see a person, animal or object in your path. It’s also important to note that inadequate vehicle maintenance might make it harder to stop, turn or take other evasive actions quickly enough to avoid a wreck.
Factors that determine the severity of a wreck
A crash that occurs at 65 miles per hour will typically be more severe than one that happens at 35 miles per hour. Furthermore, motor vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks will typically cause more damage than those involving passenger cars. If a commercial truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the smaller car will likely absorb most of the energy from the impact.
What types of injuries might you experience after a collision?
If your vehicle is struck from behind, you might experience whiplash, a concussion or back pain. This is because your body is going to be forced to move in an unnatural manner, which can lead to trauma, broken bones and soft tissue injuries. If your car is struck from the side, you are more likely to experience numbness in your arms, legs and feet.