What are my chances of getting into a car accident?

Nearly every driver feels invincible to the consequences of car accidents until it’s too late, but car accidents are unfortunately all too common. In fact, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, 39,404 people died in motor accidents in 2019 alone; over an average American lifetime, 1 in every 106 Americans will die in a motor vehicle accident. According to the peer-reviewed data journal Statistica, there were approximately twelve million motor accidents in 2018.

While you are not necessarily taking your life in your hands each time you get in your car, you are engaging in a calculation of measurable risk. This risk can be mitigated by several preventative actions, most of which can be taken individually and quite easily as an assurance of your personal responsibility for your impact as a driver. 

What are the Common Types of Vehicular Negligence?

Though no one seeks out to cause others harm, negligence or ignorance of safety concerns is, at the end of the day, tantamount to the direct endangerment of the lives of others. Such instances of negligence can include:

• Aggressive driving. Changing lanes unnecessarily, tailgating, and failing to use turn signals are all examples of overly aggressive driving. These activities can increase your risk of getting into a motor accident.
• Running traffic lights and stop signs. Even if you think you’re in the clear, there is no excuse to flout traffic lights and stop signs. By ignoring the signage, you are putting yourself and others at risk of a collision.
• Driving in inclement weather. Though it is occasionally necessary to drive in bad weather conditions, it is always an assumption of risk to do so, especially in snow, sleet, and heavy rain, all of which can make roads particularly treacherous and unsafe.
• Driving Under Influence. There is never a reason to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Uber, Lyft, and local cab companies are always a simple dial away, and getting in the car while drunk or high is quite literally risking the life of every vehicle and pedestrian you pass on your drive.
• Distracted driving. This is the foremost cause of motor accidents in the United States. Texts can wait, hard-to-eat food can wait, and communicating with a backseat passenger can wait.  

Who is More Likely to be Involved in a Car Accident?

Some particular sectors of the population are more prone to accidents than others, including seniors and teenagers. In Florida alone in 2019, for example, 689,474 drivers were involved in a motor accident, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; more than 125,000 of those drivers were aged 15-24, making youth itself a potential risk factor for car accidents. According to a study on fatality facts by gender in 2018, males are more likely than females to get into car accidents.

Of course, these statistics are correlative and not causative, so the only conclusions to be drawn are regarding risk factors that can be taken into account and mitigated simply through an awareness of the issue and a willingness to incorporate that awareness into safe driving practices.

No one wants to get into a car accident, and the resulting fallout can be physically, emotionally, and financially disastrous. With a greater, more societally pervasive awareness of the life-altering consequences of motor vehicle accidents, the news at least partly reflects a positive small shift. According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle deaths dropped an estimated 2% in 2019 from 2018, and a total of 4% from 2017. Driver assistance systems and other such innovations in modern car design have helped reduce the risk of collision.

Still, there is no adequate substitute for safety on the road, so anything you can do to mitigate the risk of a car accident is a step that you should take, for your safety and for the safety of your fellow drivers.

I was involved in a Car Accident? Can I Sue?

If you were injured in a car accident caused by negligence, you may be entitled to recover damages to help with things such as medical expenses, vehicle repairs, pain and suffering, and much more. The first step is to always seek medical attention as soon as possible to document your injuries. These medical records can help your attorney fight for your right to compensation. 

Do not speak with the insurance company or sign any papers until after you have spoken to an attorney. Insurance companies will often try to get you to settle for far less than your case is worth. We encourage you to reach out to our experienced personal injury lawyers at Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd. Contact us online or call (866) 460-1990 today to discuss your case right over the phone or video conference. Consultations are free and always confidential. We don’t get paid a dime until we win your case.