Fixed-Object Car Crashes in St. Louis | Car Wreck Lawyers

A large number of car accidents that occur on the roads are caused by collision with fixed objects.

Car accidents can be caused by a number of reasons. In addition to vehicle-vehicle crashes, a large number of car accidents that occur on the roads are caused by collision with fixed objects. Fixed object car accidents are when a motor vehicle crashes against a fixed object such as a tree, light pole, or traffic barriers that are stationed alongside the road. These accidents usually happen when cars swerve off the road and collide with these objects.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), about 20% of all car accident fatalities occur due to cars crashing with fixed objects. In the year 2014, it was estimated that about 7,508 fatalities occurred due to fixed-object vehicle crashes. Though the number of fixed object accident fatalities has largely remained between 19 to 23 percent between the years 1979 and 2013, these accidents are devastating, but with the right kind of efforts, the percentage of fatalities can be further reduced.

Causes of Fixed-Object Car Crashes

Fixed objects are almost always placed alongside roadways. Whenever vehicle collisions with fixed objects occur, they usually include the vehicle going off the road and hitting an object. Such accidents are mostly caused due to:

• driving under the influence of alcohol
• driving under the influence of drugs
• falling asleep at the wheel
• poor visibility
• inattentive or distracted drivers
• inexperienced drivers trying to navigate turns

Though all of these factors contribute to fixed object-related accidents, the most common cause is driving under the influence of alcohol. In the year 2014, about 43% of fixed-object accident cases involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more. About 44% of the total number of fixed object crash-related accidents were caused due to over speeding, where motorists were driving at speeds in excess of 55 mph. Statistics also showed that 29% of drivers were males below the age of 30 and that about 82% of the fatalities were males.

Injuries Resulting from Fixed-Object Car Crashes

Injuries and damages caused by these accidents depend upon the object that the vehicle hits. Collisions with any large or firm stationary object can result in a passenger getting ejected from the vehicle due to the force of the collision. About 20% of the fatalities in the 2014 fixed-object accidents were ejected out of their cars. Out of these, 14% were fully ejected and 6% were partially ejected.

If the vehicle hits a smaller object, the object could deflect the course of the car causing it to roll over. 19% of the fatalities were due to vehicles rolling over from the resultant crash. The injuries sustained by fixed object accident victims can range from minor scratches to severe, life-altering injuries such as spinal cord injuries, loss of limbs, and severe organ injuries.

Legal Advice from a St. Louis Car Wreck Lawyer

Depending on the circumstances of the case, a person injured in a fixed-object car crash may have a claim for compensation. Ask for legal advice from a St. Louis car wreck lawyer. Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242 for a free consultation.