Car accidents happen every day. On one hand, to those involved, they are unexpected and shocking. On the other, as a national trend, they’re something we deal with all the time. This duality makes it a bit hard to think about the role that accidents play in daily life. How you view it likely has a lot to do with how much it has impacted you personally.
To help illustrate what car accidents really look like in America, here are 10 facts everyone should be aware of:
- Between 35,000 and 40,000 people die every year in car crashes.
- For those up to 54 years old, car accidents are a leading cause of death.
- If you want an overall fatality rate, it comes in at 12.4 deaths per 100,000 people in the U.S.
- When compared to Japan or Australia, the U.S. has a massively high traffic death rate, which is roughly 50% higher.
- Cyclists and pedestrians are killed in many accidents, and the trends indicate these accidents are just growing more common.
- Many drivers who crash do so because of inexperience.
- The vast majority of accidents happen due to human error.
- The total cost of U.S. car crashes is a stunning $871 billion annually.
- By some estimates, a car accident takes a life every 24 seconds.
- Car accidents can happen to anyone, and even safe drivers are injured in car crashes.
Have you suffered serious injuries in a car accident? You may have a right to financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential and numerous other costs.