Motor Vehicle Accidents Send Millions of People to the Emergency Room Every Year

A new federal report has found that nearly 3.5 million people needed emergency room medical treatment due to a motor vehicle accident injury in 2006, and those auto accidents cost the lives of almost 44,000 people.

The report on emergency department visits by motor vehicle accident victims was reported by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in January. Of those killed, about 36,000 never made it to an emergency room, and about two-thirds of patients who required life-saving medical care were not treated in hospitals equipped to work as trauma centers.

The report used statistics from the 2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample that represents data from 90% of hospital visits. It found that about 3.5 million auto accident victims were treated in emergency departments for a variety of injuries. The most common injuries were sprains, at about 44%. Traumatic head injuries and other internal injuries accounted for less than 10% collectively.

Researchers found that auto accidents are the leading cause of death for children over the age of one, and the leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages. The data also indicated that 58% of all motor vehicle accident victims who were taken to emergency rooms were between the ages of 18 and 44.

“In addition to the physical and emotional burden on the injured and their families, MVAs (motor vehicle accidents) result in significant health care costs for society because they often lead to visits to hospital emergency departments, inpatient hospital admissions, and for some, permanent disability,” researchers said.

MARYLAND MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. handle motor vehicle accident claims in Maryland for individuals who have suffered injuries requiring medical treatment. Following an accident, it is important to seek medical treatment in an emergency room or from your doctor if a personal injury is sustained. A Maryland motor vehicle accident lawyer can help make sure your rights are protected and that you and your family obtain all of the compensation that is available.