If you have been injured in a car accident, you might be wondering if you have a personal injury claim. A personal injury claim can help you recover damages for your injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim, you will need to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. At Morgan & Morgan, we will review the facts of your case and help you decide whether to pursue a claim. We can file a lawsuit on your behalf and represent you in court and negotiate with the insurance company for you. If you were injured in a car accident, contact Morgan & Morgan today to schedule your free consultation.
An Overview of Car Accident Statistics in the United States
Car accidents are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. In 2017, there were 6.3 million car crashes, which resulted in over 37,000 fatalities and 2.9 million injuries. This averages out to over 100 car accidents every single day, with nearly 40,000 people injured and over 1,000 killed.
There are a number of factors that contribute to these numbers. First and foremost is the sheer number of cars on the road. In 2017, there were 264 million registered vehicles in the United States alone. With more cars on the road, the chances of an accident happening increase. Add to that the fact that people are driving more miles each year.
Distracted driving is another major factor in car accidents. In 2017, distracted driving was responsible for 8% of all fatal crashes and 15% of all injury crashes. There are three main types of distracted driving: visual (taking your eyes off the road), manual (taking your hands off the wheel), and cognitive (not being mentally focused on driving). Common distractions include things like talking or texting on your phone, eating or drinking, talking to passengers, fiddling with the stereo or navigation system, daydreaming, and rubbernecking (looking at other accidents).
Speeding is also a major contributing factor to car accidents. In 2017, speeding was a factor in 26% of all fatal crashes and 14% of all injury crashes. Males aged 15-20 were the most likely to be involved in speeding-related crashes, followed by males aged 21–24 and 25–34.
In 2020, there were 6,427,000 car accidents reported to police, which is a decrease from the 6,516,000 car accidents reported in 2019. This decrease can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing stay-at-home orders and decrease in travel. However, even with this decrease, car accidents are still a major problem in the United States.
In 2020, there were 36,096 fatalities due to car accidents, which is also a decrease from 2019 when there were 36,560 fatalities. This again can likely be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is still a significant number of lives lost. Of these fatalities, 66 percent were motor vehicle passengers, 14 percent were motorcycle riders, 13 percent were pedestrians, and 7 percent were bicyclists.
There was also a slight decrease in the number of injuries due to car accidents in 2020 as compared to 2019; there were 2,851,000 injuries reported compared to the 3,036,000 injuries reported in 2019. These numbers show that even with a decrease in the overall number of car accidents occurring, they are still dangerous and can have serious consequences.
There are a number of other factors that can contribute to car accidents as well, including weather conditions, recklessness, road rage, drowsy driving, and intoxication.