Eye-Opening Stats and Facts on Personal Injury Cases

No one wants to be injured in an accident. And in general, no one wants to see anyone injured in ana accident either. But with a society as complex as ours with all the moving parts, such as motor vehicles, escalators and the like, there are going to be a significant number of accidents and injuries.

In this post we want to share with you some of the stats and figures surrounding everyday accidents and injuries to give you a full picture of what is going on out there. This data is based on reporting from years 2024-2025.

• A person is accidentally injured every second: In the US, unintentional injuries strike once per second, with one death occurring every three minutes—making them the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer.
• 39.5 million injuries require medical treatment annually: That’s about 126 injuries per 1,000 people each year, according to CDC data—yet only a fraction led to lawsuits, emphasizing why early legal advice is crucial.
• Motor vehicle accidents dominate claims: They account for 52% of personal injury cases and 60% of tort filings, with roughly 2.3 million people injured in auto crashes yearly. Distracted driving, speeding, and DUI are top culprits.
• 95% of cases settle before trial: Only 3-5% of personal injury lawsuits reach a courtroom, where plaintiffs win about 50-60% of those that do—highlighting negotiation skills as a key attorney asset.
• Settlements are the norm for payouts: 67% of compensation comes from settlements, with 57% of accidental injury victims receiving $3,000–$25,000. Overall, the median auto accident award is $16,000, while premises liability hits $90,000.
• Product liability yields the biggest jackpots: These cases boast the highest settlements, with jury trials averaging $7 million—far outpacing medical malpractice ($250,000 median) or dog bites ($64,555 average, up 44% since 2019).
• 17,000 medical malpractice filings yearly: Despite the volume, these cases drag on longest (31 months on average), contributing to $46 billion in annual “defensive medicine” costs from unnecessary tests to avoid suits.
• Construction is deadliest for workers: The fatal injury rate is 9.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalents—yet premises liability cases (like slip-and-falls) make up 17% of torts, often varying wildly by incident details.
• The industry is booming at $61.7 billion: Personal injury law firms saw 2.5% annual growth, with over 135,000 specialized attorneys (10% of all US lawyers)—fueled by rising claims from events like aviation surges (up 183 cases in one district).
• Social media can torpedo your claim: In 2025, insurers scour posts aggressively; a single photo of activity during recovery could slash settlements, as AI tools now undervalue “pain and suffering” by overlooking nuances.
• Lower income heightens risk: Socioeconomic factors play big—pedestrians and cyclists in underserved areas face more hazards like potholes, leading to higher injury rates and tougher claims.
• Total societal cost: $1.28 trillion: Unintentional injuries rack up massive expenses, with poisoning, falls, and vehicles causing 86% of preventable deaths—underscoring why comprehensive settlements cover more than just medical bills.

As you can see the numbers are almost overwhelming. Even the most astute drivers and most careful people can become involved in an accident. This is why it is important to have competent representation to handle your legal case. If you are in an accident, then you will need a legal representative who cares about your case and see it through to the very end.

Having handled literally thousands of cases in our careers makes us an ideal choice to represent you. If you live in the Melbourne, Florida area or surrounding areas like Palm Bay, Rockledge, the beaches, or Viera, please feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We will respond the same day and begin working your case as soon as you give us the green light. We look forward to assisting you during these troubling times.