To show the overwhelming number of car accidents and casualties in the roads of U.S., here are some relevant statistics that would inform you how frequent a car crash occurs.
- There is an average of six million records of car accidents every year.
- More than three million people get injured in a car crash, with over two million injuries being permanent.
- There are over 40,000 lives lost in car accidents annually. Fortunately, this record has been declining
- About 40% of car accident fatalities are due to a driver driving under the influence of alcohol
- About 30% of car accident fatalities trace back to driving beyond speed limit
- A person dies in an accident every 12 minutes
- A person gets injured in an accident every 14 seconds
- Car accident is the leading cause of death among people aged 34 and below. People, who are between 15 to 24 years old, and those above 75, are the most severely injured by automobile accidents.
- More than 25% of all car drivers were involved in a car accident in a five-year period.
- In more than half of the recorded car accident fatalities, the victims were not found not to be wearing their seatbelts.
- About 25% of car accidents are caused by talking on the mobile phone while driving
- Many car accidents are due to drivers being distracted while talking, eating, drinking, or playing the radio.
Sadly, these accidents could have been prevented. Drivers could avoid being involved in these accidents if they follow traffic laws and drive with absolute caution. There are a number of standard driving rules that should be observed in order to reduce the probability of an accident.
- Drive according to road and weather conditions. If there is heavy rain, expect that the road will be slippery so you must drive slowly. The ability to stop the car quickly greatly reduces when the roads are not dry.
- Observe speed limit.
- Put your seat belts on. It will hold you in place in case of an aggressive maneuver.
- Maintain your vehicle in proper condition. Check regularly if any is malfunctioning and repair any damage right away. Replace worn tires or breaks as needed.
- Do not overtake recklessly. Avoid tailgating as well.
- Watch out and take special caution at intersections. Slow down and look both ways. Other vehicles may try to cut through the intersection while the yellow light is on.
- Stay away from heavy vehicles like 18-wheelers, large freight carriers, trucks, trailers, etc.
- Watch out for those on foot or those riding in two-wheels. Make sure no pedestrian, jogger, or cyclist is crossing or passing by.
- Avoid driving under the influence of alcohol since intoxication may cause your body reflexes to weaken and make you lose control of your vehicle.
Many law firms have come into operation in offering legal assistance to those involved in an automobile accident that was not their fault. Car accident lawyers can help injured victims, or surviving family members of a victim, earn compensation for the damages they have incurred from the party responsible with the accident.
Find more information about handling car accident claims with the help of our Car accident attorneys
