How Many Car Accidents Are There Every Day in the U.S.?
Car accidents happen every day. One of the common characteristics of these crashes is that a negligent driver caused the crash. Negligent drivers can cause all kinds of collisions, from a small bump in a parking lot to speeding on the highway and causing a multiple vehicle pileup. Unfortunately, their reckless behaviors often injure other people. Referring to someone as a negligent driver may sound a bit nebulous, you know that they weren’t driving safely, but how? There are a few ways that drivers can make themselves a danger on the road that affects people every day.
What Ways Are Drivers Negligent?
Distracted driving takes the lives of about 9 people and injures over 1,000 a day in the U.S. This is such a high number, but unfortunately many people drive while they’re distracted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines distracted driving as doing anything that will keep you from focusing on the task of driving while you’re at the wheel.
Distracted driving increases the chances of a motor vehicle accident because it affects these areas:
- Visual
- Manual
- Cognitive
Common distractions include using cell phones to text or use social media, eat or drink, change the radio station, or personal routines like makeup or flossing.
Drunk drivers also have a deadly toll each day. 29 people die a day because of alcohol-impaired drivers in the U.S. In 2016, there were 10,497 fatalities from crashes that occurred because of an intoxicated driver.
Those who are at risk for being in an alcohol-related crash include young drivers and repeat offenders. About three in 10 drivers that were involved in fatal crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over 0.08 percent were between the ages of 25-34. Other risks are people who have driven drunk before. If a driver has a BAC level of 0.08 percent of higher and are involved in a fatal crash, they are about 4.5 times more likely to have previous convictions of driving while intoxicated.
Speeding is also a major cause of death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was responsible for 27 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2016.
Speeding is usually a result of something happening to the driver. They could be late, stuck in traffic, or are doing so because drivers have a certain amount of anonymity. Those who are trying to get somewhere in a hurry may not realize how much danger they’re putting others in. When someone speeds, they’re risking the following:
- Control of the vehicle
- The car’s protective equipment having reduced effectiveness
- Taking longer to stop their car in an emergency
- Having more severe injuries in a crash
If a person is speeding behind you in the left lane, safely switch to the right lane and let them get past you. There may be situations where someone is speeding behind you and you can’t move out of the way immediately. When it is safe, either switch lanes, pull over, or even get off at the next exit so the driver passes you. It may be going out of your way, but a speeding driver has higher chances of getting into an accident. If you think you need to call the police, pull over and call when it’s safe.
Belsky, Weinberg & Horowitz, LLC Will Defend Your Rights
No matter the cause of your injuries, you don’t deserve to have to deal with this on your own. Our lawyers are compassionate and understanding. We know how stressful this time can be, and we will do everything we can to help you get through it.
When we’re helping you with your claim, we’ll explain how the process works and what you need to do so you don’t put your claim in jeopardy. An insurance company may try to give you a settlement that’s less than you deserve. But we’ll fight to make sure your settlement is fair. If you have any questions or want to schedule a consultation, get in touch with us today. We’re here to help you.
