According to a survey by the National Ambulatory Medical Care, over people 39.5 million visited their physician’s office for unintentional injuries in 2016. Similar injuries caused 173,040 deaths in 2019 and were the third-highest cause of death nationwide. These personal injury statistics indicate that accidents are far too common and can have long-lasting or fatal repercussions.
Additionally, personal injury cases — like traffic accidents, dog bites, and medical malpractice — make up a significant number of civil litigation claims in the United States. Understanding these statistics can help paint a clear picture of the dangers involved.
If you have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, contact an expert North Bergen Personal Injury Attorney to learn about your legal rights.
Personal Injury Cases in the United States
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, close to 31 million people in the United States are injured and require medical treatment every year. Of those 31 million people, over 2 million require hospitalization and 162,000 are killed.
A significant number of personal injuries in the country can be attributed to motor vehicle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 5.5 million car accidents are recorded every year and result in over 3 million injuries and 40,000 deaths.
Over 60,000 injuries and 5,000 deaths caused by semi truck-accidents are recorded every year. Construction accidents are also responsible for 300,000 injuries and 1,000 fatalities. Medical malpractice claims contribute to over 98,000 deaths per year.
Statistics of Personal Injury Lawsuits
Personal injury claims in the United States are litigated under tort laws. The US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics affirms that 60% of the contract, property, and tort trials filed in 2005 involved personal injury. Over 7,000 personal injury claims were filed with state courts and 16,397 were tried nationally. Only 4% of personal injury cases ever make it to trial.
Success Rates in Personal Injury Lawsuits
Of the cases that do go to trial, plaintiffs are successful in being awarded compensation almost 50% of the time, though the rates differ depending on the type of personal injury case. Data published by the US Department of justice breakdown success rates into different categories, including:
- Motor vehicle claims – 61% success rate
- Intentional tort claims – 50% success rate
- Premises liability claims – 38% success rate
- Product liability claims – 38% success rate
- Medical malpractice claims – 19% success rate
The relatively-low rate of success for medical malpractice claims show how difficult it can be to prove medical negligence. A knowledgeable North Bergen Personal Injury Attorney can help increase your chances of financial recovery.
Talk to a North Bergen Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury statistics from the National Safety Council (NSC) show that over 24,100,000 were recorded in the United States between 2001 and 2005. While the situation may seem bleak, there is hope for recovery for accident victims.
Attorney Anthony Carbone, an experienced North Bergen Personal Injury Attorney, has been fighting for the rights of injury victims in North Bergen for over 30 years. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone at 201-733-2230 to schedule a consultation.