Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) revealed in a release that the province of Manitoba could soon be seeing one of the worst years in a decade for serious motor vehicle accident injuries, especially when the injury numbers for the first half of 2020 saw a considerable spike.

The insurer reported that by the end of June, Manitobans had opened 18 claims that involved serious or catastrophic injuries – injuries that result in total or partial paralysis, amputation, brain injury, or similar other life-changing traumatic injuries.

"These types of injuries typically result in very long hospitalization and recovery time for those affected," commented MPI vice president of employee and community engagement Satvir Jatana in the release.

"In some cases, the injured person may require care 24 hours a day."

By comparison, the first half of 2019 only saw eight such claims, while the first half of 2018 saw nine, CBC News reported.

MPI had estimated that on average there are about 20 serious motor vehicle collision-related injuries per year in the province.

On top of 2020’s half-year serious motor injury claims nearly rising to the average number of full-year claims, MPI also found that while there are fewer drivers on the road due to the pandemic, more people appear to be speeding.

Citing data from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, MPI reported that in April and June of this year, there was a 60% increase in serious speed-related driving offenses – cases where the infraction is 50 km/h or more over the limit. The insurer noted that the majority of these serious or catastrophic injuries occur on rural roadways, where speed limits are higher.