Road crash statistics indicate that almost 1.3 million people die in traffic crashes each year, which translates to 3,287 traffic accident deaths in the U.S. every day. Another 20 to 50 million individuals are either injured or disabled.
Auto accidents happen every day and come out of nowhere to disrupt your life and leave you with serious injuries. Whether you’re a driver, motorcyclist, or bicyclist, you are at risk of being involved in an accident any time you are on the road. Statistically, you have a much higher chance of dying in a motorcycle accident than a car accident, but the numbers are sobering no matter how you look at them:
Chance of dying in car accident: 1 in 18,585
Chance of dying on a motorcycle: 1 in 802
Chance of dying on a bicycle: 1 in 4,472
Sadly, more than half of all road traffic deaths occur among young adults between the ages of 15 to 44.
With an average cost of $1.1 billion per motor vehicle death, $61,600 for each non-fatal disabling injury accident, and $7,500 for each accident resulting in only property damage, accidents on the road come at a high personal and financial cost. According to Forbes magazine, if you got your license at the age of 16, your odds of experiencing a road accident of some sort are high. In fact, the majority of drivers will have at least one accident by age 34, and should be involved in a total of three to four accidents over their lifetime.
Car Accidents on the Rise in Florida
Reports from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles state that traffic accidents in the Sunshine State rose more than 20 percent between 2011 and 2012 and involved more than 130,000 more drivers than in previous years.
The rate of fatal crashes in this time period also increased 1.8 percent from previous years, ranking Florida high in fatal car accidents compared to other states. Pedestrian-related crashes and injuries increased by almost 20 percent.
Bicycle and motorcycle accident injuries also increased in Florida, with bicycle accident crashes jumping 28 percent, and motorcycle accidents rising by nearly 10 percent.
Most Common Causes of Death: Where Do Traffic Accidents Rank?
According to MedHelp, traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States. Unfortunately, driving, walking, and bicycling are all dangerous activities. Here is a breakdown of how they rank among the other top causes of death:
Bicycle accidents: #17. Bicycle accidents accounted for more than 630 deaths in 2009.
Motorcycle accidents: #12. Motorcycle accidents accounted for over 4,760 deaths in 2009.
Pedestrian accidents: #11. Statistically, pedestrian-related crashes are deadlier than motorcycle accidents, especially when walking on a busy street.
Car accidents: #8. Car accidents remain one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States.
Speak With a Pensacola Auto Accident Lawyer Now
Driving is something most people need to do every day. Unfortunately, you can’t control how other motorists drive, which leaves you vulnerable to an accident. If you or anyone you know was injured in a traffic accident, call Joe Zarzaur, Pensacola Auto Accident lawyer at Zarzaur Law, P.A. for a free case evaluation.