Driving is dangerous. The sheer number of cars on the road increases the likelihood of being involved in an accident. If you add inattentive, reckless, or impaired drivers to the equation, it seems more likely than not that you will eventually be in a car crash. You may wonder about the odds of getting into a car accident. You may be concerned about the odds of being injured in a car crash. The statistics may disturb you.
Numbers Of Car Accidents.
In 2019, the United States recorded over 6 million car accidents. Those accidents involved nearly 2% of all registered vehicles and almost 3% of all registered drivers in the US. Over 400,000 accidents were reported in Florida. In Palm Beach County, over 26,000 accidents were reported.
Numbers Of Injuries Resulting From Car Accidents.
In 2019, over 1.9 million car crashes resulted in injuries. On average, nearly two million drivers suffer permanent injuries in the accidents they are involved in. Accidents do not only injure drivers. Almost three million passengers suffer injuries in accidents every year in the US. Overall, 27% of car accidents result in non-fatal injuries.
Number Of Fatalities Resulting From Car Accidents.
Approximately 6% of car accidents in the US result in fatalities. In 2019, 33,244 fatal accidents resulted in 36,096 deaths. Florida ranked 3rd in fatalities on a state-by-state basis, with over 3000 deaths in 2019. The National Safety Council puts the odds of anyone’s cause of death being a car accident at about 1%.
What Do These Numbers Mean To You?
No matter which statistic you look at, the odds of being involved or injured in an automobile accident are ominously high. If you consider that 2% of the registered cars will be involved in an accident every year, two vehicles out of every one hundred will be in a crash. Suppose you consider that not all registered automobiles are driven regularly. In that case, the odds of the car you are in being in a crash go up. The same logic can be used with the driver statistic. The statistic states that 3% of licensed drivers are involved in accidents every year. Not every licensed driver drives. As a result, the number of active drivers involved in accidents is greater than 3%.
Who Causes Accidents?
Is the driver always a factor in causing car accidents? You often hear rumors that one social group or class causes more accidents than others. At least one driver involved in an accident is at fault in most cases. The likelihood that a crash is unavoidable is very slim. Can the driver’s age or gender be a factor when there is an accident? Do other factors contribute to accidents?
Older Drivers.
Drivers over 70 make up approximately 11% of the population. The number of older drivers increased in the past decade. As a result, the number of drivers over the age of 70 has increased. However, the number of fatal accidents involving older drivers has fallen significantly since 2000. Older drivers also tend to drive considerably less than other drivers. On a mile-by-mile basis, the number of non-fatal and non-injury accidents does start to increase at ages over 70.
Teenage Drivers.
Young drivers have four times the likelihood of being in an accident than drivers over 20. Lack of experience and a tendency to put themselves in dangerous situations contribute to the higher rate of accidents for young drivers. Drunk driving with teen drivers is not a particularly common occurrence. However, teen drivers are much more likely to be in an accident than older drivers when drinking and driving occur.
Men and Women.
In the United States, men drive approximately 62% of the time. Women drive 38% of the time. As a result, male drivers are involved in more accidents. Men are the drivers in 58% of accidents. Women are the drivers in 42% of accidents. However, men tend to be drivers in a significantly higher percentage of fatal accidents.
Other Factors.
Drunk Driving.
For years, drunk-driving was the main focus of national accident prevention programs. Drinking and driving continue to be a significant cause of injury accidents.
Distracted Driving.
Today, distracted driving is the most common factor in all accidents. Every race, gender, and age group is guilty of distracted driving. Cell phones and car entertainment systems both contribute to distracted driving. Younger drivers are most susceptible to becoming victims of distracted driving accidents. They often drive with several friends in the car.
Road Rage.
Aggressive driving cases are more common today than at any time in the past. The well-known causes are still major causes of injury accidents. Speeding and running red lights are still significant causes of car accidents.
Can You Avoid Being in a Car Accident?
The statistics make it clear that the likelihood of being involved in a car accident is disturbing. The odds of being injured in a car crash are higher than any of us could imagine. While you can look at statistics and create a scheme to avoid accidents, the bottom line is that you cannot control every other driver on the road. Statistics show that it is likely that you will be involved in some car accident within your lifetime, no matter how safe you are.
What Can You Do?
The best strategy for avoiding being involved in a car accident begins with knowing what causes accidents. Avoid being a distracted driver. If you have poor night vision, avoid driving at night. Reduce the miles you drive if possible.
If you find yourself the injured victim of a car accident, find a reputable Personal Injury Law Firm to help you deal with the situation. After an accident, legal assistance will relieve the pressures of healing. If you live in the Palm Beach County area, Boynton Beach Car Crash Attorneys at the Bodden and Bennett Law Group can provide the assistance you need.
