A car accident is a traumatizing experience that can result in serious injuries in addition to long-term physical and psychological suffering. As a Sacramento injury attorney, some of the the things we have seen and heard over our years serving the Sacramento community have surprised us. We wanted to share a few facts about car accidents that might shock you.
Here are six facts that might surprise you about car accidents.
1. Thirty-One Percent of Fatal Accidents Involve Alcohol
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017, 31% of all traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. involved an alcohol-impaired driver. There were 10,322 fatalities in the U.S. that involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher.
2. Most Car Accidents Happen Close to Home
We recently published an article about this subject. You can read it here.
The majority of car accidents occur very close to a driver’s place of residence, according to Esurance. While Esurance.com states that most accidents occur within 25 miles of a person’s home, a Progressive Insurance survey of people involved in accidents during 2001 determined that about half of all accidents reported were within 5 miles of home and about a quarter of those occurred within less than one mile of the victims home.
3. Distracted Driving Causes Thousands of Accidents Each Year
Distraction.gov reports that distracted driving is determined to be the cause of thousands of vehicle accidents each year in the United States. Just last year, in 2017, 3,328 people were killed in crashes caused by a distracted driver. One of the most common types of distracted driving is texting or using a handheld mobile device while driving. However, distracted driving can also include talking to passengers, adjusting the stereo, eating or drinking, putting on makeup and so much more. Anything that takes your eyes off of the road is dangerous. The average text message takes five seconds to send, and traveling at 55 mph, that equals driving the distance of a football field without looking up.
4. Rollovers among the Most Deadly Accident Types
According to SafeRoads.org, rollover accidents are usually the most severe in terms of injuries. Vehicle occupants are often ejected, or suffer head injuries during rollover accidents. According to the website, rollover accidents only account for 3% of all types of collisions, yet are responsible for more than 30% of all motor vehicle occupant fatalities.
5. Men More Likely to Cause an Accident Than Women
According to several reliable data sources, including Howard University, men are involved in a higher number of vehicle accidents than women. The report by Howard University studied car accidents in Washington D.C. from 2015 to 2017 found that men were the drivers in 65% of the accidents.
6. Someone Loses Their Life Every 16 Minutes in a Traffic Accident
According to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone died in a traffic collision every 16 minutes in the US for the year 2017. That equals the deaths of 92 people each day.
Were You Injured in an Accident?
Get help from a Sacramento Injury Attorney
A qualified car accident attorney can be a key factor in receiving a fair settlement after a vehicle accident. Insurance companies can be a nightmare to deal with, especially if you’re recovering from injuries. Let our Sacramento of getting a fair settlement following an accident. At the Law Offices of Zappettini & Bradley, our Sacramento injury attorneys can help you. Call us today at 916-457-5022 for a FREE CONSULTATION.
