While the automobile is one of the most important inventions in history, it’s also one of the most dangerous. Several fatal car accidents happen every single year due to distracted driving, drunk driving, car malfunctions, poor weather conditions, texting while driving and a number of other reasons.
Many of those accidents leave victims seriously injured and even dead. Here’s a look at some of the very important car accident statistics.
Fatal Car Accident Stats
In 2014, 32,675 people were killed due to a fatal car accident. Florida saw a total of 2,262 fatal car crashes in 2010. According to the latest statistics, the United States is sixth on the list of most fatal car accidents per year in the world.
While these stats are alarming, fatal car accidents have been on the decline since the mid-1970s. Fatal accidents rose from the first Ford Model T, all the way through the 1960s before it started to decline. In addition to these stats, a few important statistics to remember include:
More than 1,600 children die every year due to a fatal car accident
About 2.35 million people are disables and injured due to a car accident every year
About 8,000 people die in car accidents with drivers under the age of 20 every year
The cost of car accidents in the United States tops $230 billion every year
A Closer Look at the Types of Fatal Car Accidents
There are plenty of different types of fatal car accidents and car crashes causing injuries. Often, these types of accidents lead to hiring a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer because someone was negligent.
Distracted Driving
One of the most common types of car accidents causing injury or death today is distracted driving. More than 3,000 people are killed every year and over 400K are injured due to distracted driving.
While this type of accident is often associated with texting, it includes many other types of distractions. Some of the types of distractions causing accidents include:
Eating and drinking
Grooming
Using a cell phone or smartphone
Reading
Using a navigation system
Adjusting the radio, MP3 player or CD player
Watching a video
Talking to passengers
Playing Pokémon Go
As a motorist, it’s your responsibility to keep distractions eliminated while you are driving. If you cause an accident as a distracted driver, you could end up in jail if the accident leads to the death of another. You will also likely be held responsible for the financial expenses of the victims.
Texting While Driving
This type of accident is distracted driving, but it’s a completely different category. Texting while driving is responsible for about 25% of all car accidents today. It has been compared to drunk driving because texting while driving slows your reaction time by 18%.
Drunk Driving
Of course, one of the worst types of car accidents is a drunk driving accident. More people are killed due to a drunk driver than any other type of accident. Not only can you end up with a DUI due to drinking and driving, but you could land in jail if you kill someone in an accident.
These are just a few of the many facts and stats about fatal car accidents. If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident causing death or serious injury, you need a Jacksonville car accident lawyer on your side.