Did you know that over 40,000 people die in car accidents every year?
The risk of dying in a car accident is high for any number of reasons. Heavy vehicles travel at high speeds, and humans have delayed reaction times. Couple that with distractions and strong emotions, and you have a recipe for a high-impact car accident.
The question is, what is the risk of dying in a car accident? Everyone takes a certain amount of risk with even a short drive to the store.
Join us as we discuss what your chances of dying in a car crash are.
What Is the Risk of Dying in a Car Accident?
To make this simple, let’s use Arizona stats to do the math. And to avoid all the complexity involved in accidents, we will only be considering vehicle-on-vehicle collisions. Other deaths, such as those involving pedestrians, will not be included.
In Arizona, there were 121,000 vehicle collisions in 2021. Of those collisions, there are a reported 51,000 injuries. As for the death by car accident tally, that’s only 1,180 in the same year.
If we do the math, that means 0.009% of all accidents are fatal. Your odds of dying in a car accident are less than 1% when you get involved in one.
Now, it’s much more difficult to determine particulars such as dying on impact in a car accident. However, these statistics make it clear that there is a very, very small chance of getting in a fatal car accident. And the chances of getting in a car accident of any kind is rare to begin with.
How to Mitigate Your Risk of Dying in a Car Accident
If these numbers concern you, remember that the best thing you can do is drive defensively. Obey the speed limits. Pay close attention to your surroundings and don’t be too trusting of the drivers around you.
Keep the following in mind as well:
- Do not speed on freeways and highways where accidents are common
- Avoid driving during busy times, such as rush hour
- If possible, drive in a larger vehicle such as an SUV or truck
- Ask someone else to drive if you don’t feel comfortable doing so
What to Do if You’ve Been in a Car Accident
Accidents are complicated, and it can be challenging to determine who was at fault–and by how much. To ensure the most favorable outcome, don’t hesitate to hire a lawyer.
With every crash–including fatal ones–there is a statute of limitations. This means that there is a limited amount of time after the event for you to make any legal claims.
Failure to file suit within this statute of limitations could result in your case being thrown out. Click here for more info on the statute of limitations in Arizona car accidents.
Stay Safe While Driving
The good news is that fatal car accidents are vanishingly rare. Your risk of dying in a car accident is less than 1%. As long as you are a defensive driver who pays attention, you can make that risk even smaller.
Follow our blog for more driving tips.
