A car accident is an incident in which an automobile collides with anything causing property damage or personal injury, which may include a collision with another automobile, real property, or with a pedestrian. Depending on the seriousness of the incident, the ramifications stemming from a car accident can involve both criminal law (e.g., government prosecution for reckless driving) and civil law (e.g., injured party sues for personal injury damages). In this instance, the purpose of the criminal law proceeding is to hold the reckless driver criminally responsible for the harm caused; the litigation is prosecuted by the government against the defendant. If found guilty, the driver can be punished by payment of a fine (including restitution) and imprisonment, depending on the seriousness of the charges. Conversely, with a civil law proceeding (e.g., personal injury suit), the injured party files suit against the reckless driver seeking compensation for personal injury damages. If the defendant is found civilly liable, the plaintiff is entitled to receive compensation for the harm suffered.

• Automobile Accidents, Tort Law, Externalities, and Insurance: An Economist’s Critique
  An Economist's view on the cost of Automobile Accidents
• What to Do After a Car Accident
  Informative information and checklist for after an auto accident occurs
• Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
  Research and Innovative Technology Association
• U.S Deparment of Transportation
  Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation's highways.

• Look at the Effects of Car Accidents - UK
  A look at car accident injuries in the UK
• Traffic Accidents Abroad: Still More Clarity Needed in the EU
  The Academy of European Law is a public foundation supported by the European Union and offers conferences, seminars, professional training courses and policy debates on different areas of EC and EU law, designed for all legal practitioners and adapted to their level of knowledge and specialisation.
• Australian Automobile Association (AAA)
  The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) supports and coordinates the activities of our constituent motoring clubs and represents the interests of all Australian motorists at a national and international level.
• FIA Foundation
  The FIA Foundation is a leader in road safety campaigning and research, working with a global network of partners. We also conduct environment and mobility research, and support motor sport safety research.

• What’s the process of getting an insurance settlement from a car accident?
  

  If you’ve been involved in a car accident that was the fault of another party, you should first seek to make a claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company. You can make a property damage claim for damage to your vehicle as a result of the car accident. You may also claim compensation for personal in..