Recent technological advancements, such as autonomous braking, lane assist, and even self-driving vehicles, provide an expectation that cars are safer now than they have ever been. However, despite these preventative measures, there were over 7.2 million vehicular accidents in the United States in 2016, a 15% increase from the previous year. Car accidents can occur in a myriad of ways, such as head on collision, rear-end, T-bone accidents, failure to yield, and several others. Similarly, these accidents can take place for multiple reasons:

• Distracted Driving— Cell phones, conversation with passengers, or even something as innocent as adjusting the radio volume can cause an accident.
• Alcohol Use—Fatal crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver accounted for 29% of all traffic-related fatalities in 2017.
• Recklessness—Speeding was a contributing factor in more than 10,000 traffic fatalities in 2016, the highest recorded since 2012.
• Poor/Unsafe Road Conditions—Heavy rains and a sharp wind can both cause vehicle accidents. Cars may hydroplane, slip, or suddenly veer into the path of another vehicle due to these adverse conditions. Also, roads that are not properly maintained by authorities can create hazardous situations that contribute to car accidents.
• Mechanical Defect—If a car is improperly maintained, or if it is designed, built, or sold with defective parts, then a vehicular crash can occur due to a mechanical malfunction.

The sheer force of two vehicles colliding at high speeds can have devastating effects. Common injuries suffered in vehicular accidents include (but are not limited to):

• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Internal bleeding
• Broken bone(s)
• Amputation
• Road rash/cuts

Due to the surge of adrenaline, the full extent of one’s injuries may not be apparent following an accident. Quill and Arrow strongly urges those involved in car accidents to seek medical attention and evaluation, even if they feel that they are alright.