Most drivers don’t envision having a car accident when they get behind the wheel. However, auto accidents are quite common. While many crashes are relatively minor and do not result in injuries or deaths, some are catastrophic and leave victims facing devastating injuries or the loss of their loved ones. What are the odds of getting in a car crash? Scroll down to find out.
Car Accident Statistics
What are the odds of getting in a car crash? Insurance industry statistics demonstrate that the average driver files a compensation claim once every 18 years. This means you might expect to be involved in three to four accidents during your life.
The General Services Administration (GSA) reports an average of 6.4 million car crashes occur in the U.S. each year. A study conducted by Esurance found that 77 percent of drivers surveyed reported being involved in one or more car accidents in their lives. What are the odds of getting in a car crash per vehicle miles driven? Studies have found that for every 1,000 miles, your chances are 1 out of 366.
Contributing Factors
The following factors contribute to your chances of getting in a car crash:
- How often you drive
- Your driving behavior
- Where you drive
- Your age
- Time of day when you drive
Your chances of being in an accident increase with the frequency of driving. If you drive frequently, you have a higher accident risk. How you behave while driving also substantially affects your chance of being in an accident. If you engage in the following types of behaviors, you have a heightened risk of causing a collision:
- Speeding
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving while fatigued or drowsy
- Tailgating
- Inattentive driving
Driving at night or on the weekend also carries a higher risk of accident involvement. This is because more drunk drivers are on the roads during these times. Nighttime also comes with reduced visibility, which takes away some of the time you have to react to avoid hazards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more accidents occur on Saturday than any other day of the week. Friday has the second-highest number of accidents, and Sunday comes in third.
Even though rural areas do not have as many people on the roads, they also carry a greater accident risk. People in rural areas tend to drive faster, and the roads might have no shoulders or shoulders that are too narrow. Lighting in rural areas is often poor as well.
Steps to Decrease Your Accident Risk
To reduce your risk of an accident, review the following tips:
- Follow all traffic laws
- Use safety features
- Never talk or text on your phone while driving
- Focus your attention on the road
- Watch for hazards to have time to react
- Never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Keep your car in good working condition
- Don’t engage with aggressive drivers
If you plan a night out with friends, take a rideshare. Never count on a designated driver to get you home. Sometimes, people who offer to be designated drivers end up drinking. The expense of a rideshare is much less than you’ll have to pay if you cause an accident or are arrested for drunk driving.
Use defensive driving skills whenever you drive. If you keep your attention on the roads, you can anticipate hazards and react in time to prevent most accidents. However, even if you always obey the law and follow the above-listed tips, you can’t avoid all accidents. This is because you don’t have control over the actions of others.
Talk to the Attorneys at the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave
If you suffered injuries in a collision because of someone else’s negligence, you should talk to the lawyers at the Law Offices of Bryan Musgrave. We provide free consultations and can discuss your rights and options. Call us today at 417-322-2222 or contact us online.