Car crashes can cause severe injuries that require medical attention as soon as possible. If an injured victim doesn’t receive the care they need in a reasonable time frame, there’s a chance those injuries could worsen and cause long-term issues or the person could lose their life.
This makes communication with first responders essential to surviving a serious car crash. Nearly everyone carries their cell phone with them and there are now apps that will contact medics in the event of a car crash.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car crash, you may be worrying about affording medical bills and missing work. With the help of a West Virginia car accident injury lawyer from DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC, you can get compensation that will provide financial support for your future.
West Virginia Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHSTA) Traffic Safety Performance for West Virginia breaks down the traffic accidents and the years when they occurred.
- 2016 had 358 fatal crashes.
- 32 of those people were in between ages 15-20.
- 323 of those people were 21 years and older.
- Urban areas had 99 fatalities.
- Rural areas had 169 fatalities.
Many factors contribute to car crashes. Speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving are common causes of car accidents. While distracted driving can apply to changing the radio or trying to eat and drive at the same time, one of the biggest things that cause distracted driving are phones. Texting or checking social media while driving is still a dangerous move that can result in an accident, but you don’t have to leave your phone at home. There may be advantages of having your phone on you when you drive.
How Can Cell Phone Help You in a Car Crash?
The moments after a car crash can be critical if you or another person needs immediate medical attention. When someone is injured and medics can get to them immediately, that time is referred to as the golden hour, where medics can treat the injuries and have a higher chance of saving the person’s life.
But what if you can’t get to your phone? Now, technology is advancing to where your phone can detect the impact of a crash. There are apps that contact medical assistance and send them to your location when they sense a crash.
There is some worry about what happens if there isn’t a crash but the app reads a sudden stop as an accident and sends paramedics out to people who don’t need them. But the apps are developed to tell the difference between severe and mild impact.
Technology such as this could help crash victims get medical assistance without depending on someone in the crash or a bystander to call 911. Accidents on backroads may not have anybody else around who can call for help. Apps that detect car crashes could be the difference between life and death, and potentially reduce the amount of traffic fatalities in the future.
