Motor Vehicle Fatality Rate In The United States 2020
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were about 30,000 to 34,000 motor vehicle-related deaths on U.S. roadways every year from 2010 to 2018. In addition to fatal accidents, about 5.3 million to 6.8 million police-reported motor vehicle crashes were reported every year within that same time span. These figures include accidents that only resulted in non fatal injuries and/or property damage.
Car accidents cause more than just property damage. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), personal injuries, medical treatment costs, and lost business productivity cost society $75 billion in just 2017 alone.
How many people die in Car Accidents in US?
Car crash deaths and rates vary across states, and they vary across different types of vehicles involved in the crash. They also vary in terms of the type of accident in question. For example, the most commonly occurring car accidents are sideswipe or T-bone accidents, which are common at intersections. However, in terms of fatality rate, head-on collisions and collisions involving over speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are deadlier than other types of accidents.
According To NHTSA in Fatal Accidents in the USA
According to the NHTSA, about 26 percent of all fatal accidents in 2017 involved speeding. The NHTSA also reported that distracted driving–which includes texting, interacting with other passengers, using devices, and eating and drinking while driving–killed almost 3,000 people in 2018. For legal help call the car accident lawyers Fort Lauderdale.
Why Truck Accident Are Deadliest in the USA?
In terms of vehicle type, trucks are less likely to be involved in an accident, but accidents involving trucks are deadlier than accidents involving only passenger vehicles. Also, truck accidents are more likely to involve multiple vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 37 percent of fatal accidents involving large trucks led to fatalities of passenger vehicle occupants. Drivers and occupants of trucks involved in crashes are less likely to be killed in such accidents.
Motorcycle and pedestrian accidents involving cars can also be deadly. According to the NHTSA, there were 5,286 motorcycle-related fatalities in the United States in 2016. According to the CDC, one pedestrian is killed in a roadway accident every 88 minutes.
Types of Car Accidents and Common Accident Injuries in the USA
Some of the more common types of car accidents–and the injuries they tend to cause–are:
- Rear-end accidents: These accidents can result in nerve and muscle damage in the neck and considerable vehicle damage. Rear-end accidents are often caused by driver distraction or faulty brakes.
- Frontal accidents: These are perhaps the deadliest of all accident types and are often caused by reckless driving, narrow roads, and poor visibility. Frontal accidents can lead to extensive vehicle damage, broken bones, head and brain trauma, and death.
- Sideswipes: Sideswipes are the most common of all car accidents, and they can lead to internal organ damage, property damage, lost time from work, and other bodily injuries.
- Rollovers: Rollovers can occur when a car hits something on the road or is tipped over after striking or being struck by another vehicle. Rollovers can lead to serious head and brain injuries, broken bones, and substantial medical bills.
Car Accident Statistics 2019
Preliminary figures from the NHTSA on 2019 car accident statistics show a slight improvement over 2018’s figures. Fatalities for all major traffic safety categories–including the driver, passenger, motorcyclist, pedestrian, and pedal cyclist fatalities–all fell between one and four percent from 2018 to 2019. Overall, 2018’s 36,560 fatality figure fell to 36,120 in 2019, and fatalities per million vehicle miles in 2019 is expected to be the second-lowest of all time since the NHTSA started recording fatal crash statistics.
Contact Us for Legal Assistance
The CDC estimates that emergency medical treatment costs for car accidents range between $3,300 and $57,000 per accident. These costs are in addition to any property or vehicle damage and any lost income that you or your loved ones suffer after a car accident.
If you were involved in a car accident and sustained injuries of any type, please contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato today at (954) 633-8270 for legal guidance. We treat our clients like family and work diligently to guide you through the legal process after a vehicle accident. We pride ourselves on providing you with sound, timely, and prompt communication, so please do not hesitate to contact us today for assistance with a car accident or a Fort Lauderdale personal injury claim.
