How Often Does A Car Crash Occur

Car accidents can be caused daily by many different factors anywhere in the US. They are one of the most traumatic incidents that a person can experience in their lifetime and have become a reality for many victims. When asked how often a car crash occurs, the answer is every few seconds. 

Those involved in a car accident should get in touch with a car accident injury lawyer as these attorneys are responsible for representing victims injured due to a car crash. They help victims get a satisfactory settlement claim for their injuries, which can help them recover from such a traumatic encounter.

How Common Are Car Accidents?

How often does a car crash occur in the US? Studies show that approximately 13 car accidents arise somewhere in the United States every 60 seconds. This calculates to approximately 6.75 million accidents each year.

Though not all of these accidents end in fatality, they can result in serious injury, leading one to need legal assistance. Research shows that every motorist is likely to be involved in a minimum of four accidents in their lifetime.

Looking at what the common causes of car accidents are, can help to keep motorists informed of what to avoid and look out for when on the road.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Drunk Driving

If someone is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, there is a higher risk of injuries and fatalities because these individuals are known to travel at faster speeds.

Distracted Driving

Distractions while driving that can easily cause a car crash to occur include the following:

  • Grooming
  • Eating
  • Talking to passengers 
  • Using the GPS or navigation system
  • Adjusting the climate control system 
  • Playing loud music
  • Texting 

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving such as erratic lane changes, following too closely, and cutting in front of people can create a dangerous situation for everyone on the road.

Truck Accidents

Commercial vehicle accidents are responsible for a large number of serious injuries. As a result of the size and weight of these vehicles, the occurrence of fatality is much higher.

Drowsy or Fatigued Driving

Driving drowsy, or extremely tired can very closely be compared to someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers who experience fatigue are not as quick to respond to a potentially dangerous situation, making them a hazard on the road. 

Speeding

Speeding is a common cause of car accidents in the US. Drivers who exceed the speed limit place themselves in a dangerous position where they would not have enough time to slow down or react to an obstacle in the road that could lead to a car crash.  

Ignoring Traffic Signals and Signs

Traffic signals and signs are in place to help control the traffic flow and to let drivers know where they should go and what they should do. Motorists who fail to acknowledge these signs can create a dangerous situation on the road that can result in an accident.

Car Accident Stats

How often does a car crash occur? In the year 2020, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded 5,250,837 motor vehicle accidents in the country. Within this number 35,000 resulted in fatal accidents, of which the states of Texas, California, and Florida ranked the highest. 

More car accident stats to be noted are the following:

  • Over 37 000 people die in car crashes every year.
  • How often does a car crash occur in minutes that is fatal? A car accident that results in death occurs every 16 minutes. 
  • Almost 8000 people are killed in crashes that involve drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 years old.
  • Over 1600 children under the age of 15 lose their lives in car accidents every year.

What Percent of Car Crashes are Fatal?

In the year 2019, there were 36,096 fatalities in motor vehicle accidents within the United States. In the year 2020, there were 35,766 fatal accidents in the U.S., which resulted in 38,824 deaths. This calculates to an average of 106 car accident deaths per day. One out of every 147 accidents is fatal, making the percentage of fatal car crashes 0.7%.

Conclusion

After looking at the stats of how often a car crash occurs, the simple answer is too often. This makes it crucial to have a team of car injury lawyers you can depend on. If you have been the victim of a car crash, it’s important to seek legal assistance as soon as possible to ensure that nothing prevents you from receiving financial compensation.

Contact Mulvihill Law Firm to schedule your first consultation with our team of reliable car accident injury lawyers and let’s get you the justice that a car crash victim deserves today!