Fatal car accidents facts that you should know
Automobiles, one of the most important inventions of all-time, allowing people to inexpensively and effectively travel greater distances than previous generations ever believed possible. Truly, car travel has revolutionized the world, bringing far away cities and communities into realistic reach, joining friends, family, and business clients across great distances. We cannot say enough about how valuable the automobile is. Sadly, one major side-effect of the ubiquity of drivers is the number of disastrous and sometimes fatal auto accidents that occur every year, due to a number of factors, including: distracted driving, texting while driving, drunk driving, poor weather conditions, car malfunctions, and more.
Fatal car accidents are one of the leading preventable causes of death in America. According to the National Safety Council in 2017 the U.S. vehicle deaths topped 40,000. Based on latest-year statistics, America currently sits sixth on the list of nations with the most fatal car accidents per year (#1-5 are: China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria).
Some other important (and depressing) facts to recognize about deadly car crashes, based on statistics from The Association For Safe International Road Travel:
- Approximately 2.35 million are injured or disabled in wrecks each year
- Over 1,600 children under 15 years of age die each year
- Nearly 8,000 people are killed in crashes involving drivers ages 16-20
- Crashes cost the U.S. $230.6 billion per year, or an average of $820 per person
Types of Fatal Car Accident
There are several types of car accident that cause severe injury and death that specifically relate to personal injury law. Let’s take a closer:
Distracted Driving: According to distraction.org, “In 2016, 3,450 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.” With so many potential distractions facing drivers, it is little wonder why distracted driving-related deaths are so prevalent. In fact, by definition, ALL of the following actions can legally constitute “distracted driving”:
Using a cell phone or smartphone
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Grooming
- Reading (including maps)
- Using a navigation system
- Watching a video
Drunk Driving: Unfortunately, despite harsh legal penalties for drinking and driving, multi-million dollar advertising campaigns showcasing the dangers of driving drunk, and the work of nonprofit organizations like M.A.D.D., alcohol-related car accidents are still all-too-common today.
Driving is an activity that the overwhelming majority of Americans engage in consistently (as of 2016, 88% of individuals over 16 are licensed to drive), and every time you sit behind the wheel you take the risk of experiencing a fatal auto accident through no fault of your own. When this happens to a loved one, you need to speak with a personal injury lawyer as quickly as possible.
If you know anyone who has died in a car accident, we are truly sorry for your loss, and if you believe that their death was a direct result of the negligence of another driver, Robes Law Group is here to help. If you are in need of assistance, please reach out to us at (561) 570.5700 to speak with one of our experienced attorneys.
