What Are The Odds Of Dying In A Car Crash?

Gregg Hollander | September 1, 2021 | Car Accidents

What Are The Odds Of Dying In A Car Crash?

Being involved in a car accident can have a devastating impact on your life. It can even claim your life. 

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 36,560 people died in car crashes in the US in 2018. Unfortunately, traffic fatalities are on the rise.

These statistics emphasize the importance of practicing safe driving habits. It’s particularly important to be vigilant when driving in a busy environment such as Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Risk Factors for Fatal Car Crashes

Factors that influence the seriousness of a car accident include:

  • The speed of all vehicles involved in the crash
  • The size of the vehicles (truck accidents are often more likely to be fatal than car accidents)
  • The vehicles’ safety rankings
  • The ages of those involved in the accident and their overall physical condition
  • Whether vehicle occupants were wearing seat belts
  • Whether a motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet

To protect yourself from an accident, you must always take common-sense steps like wearing a seatbelt in a car and wearing the proper safety gear on a motorcycle.

You’re More Likely to Be Injured in a Car Accident Than Killed in One

You’ll hopefully never be harmed in any type of motor vehicle accident. However, it’s worth noting that your odds of being injured in an accident are much greater than your odds of losing your life. 

The National Safety Council calculates a person’s lifetime odds of being injured or killed in certain accidents. A person’s odds of dying in a car crash are 1 in 107. The odds of death are higher for heart disease (1 in 6), cancer (1 in 7), opioid overdose (1 in 92), and falls (1 in 106).

However, everyone does not have the same odds of dying in a car accident. Individuals who drive frequently are more at risk than those who drive seldom. Likewise, aggressive drivers are more at risk than conservative drivers.

Sustaining injuries in a car accident can impact your life in many ways. At the very least, you’ll be left with medical bills that you may not be prepared to pay. Your injuries could also prevent you from being able to do your job. This may exacerbate an already strained financial situation.

You can seek compensation for these losses through an injury claim. Because Florida is still a no-fault state, your first means of pursuing compensation would be to file a PIP claim with your own insurance. If someone else caused the accident, you can file an additional claim or lawsuit against their insurer — if your injuries are serious. A lawyer can assist you when filing either type of claim.

Wrongful Death Claims After Florida Car Accident

The death of a loved one in a car accident is an emotionally challenging experience. It can also disrupt your life for years to come.

For example, perhaps your spouse is the main provider for you and your children. If they were to die in a car accident, you would be deprived of their income. Adjusting to this change could be difficult.

If someone else caused your loved one’s accident and death, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. Tragically, car accidents can claim the lives of even the most responsible motorists. Their families can at least seek some degree of compensation for their losses when this occurs.

Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in South Florida

If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

We proudly serve Palm Beach County, Broward County, and its surrounding areas:

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Boca Raton Law Office
7000 W Palmetto Park Rd #500
Boca Raton, FL 33433
(561) 347-7770

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – Fort Lauderdale Law Office
200 S.E. 6th Street #203
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 287-0566

Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers – West Palm Beach Law Office
319 Clematis St #203
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 556-7873