National Car Accident and Auto Accident Statistics

Every year, millions of car accident in the United States cause injury or death. Because most people will be involved in some type of car accident in their lifetime, auto accidents affect everyone. People suffer from emotional distress due to the loss of loved ones from auto accidents.  Thousands of people are left with lifelong disabilities due to car accidents, such as traumatic brain injuries and paralysis. In 2005, there were approximately 6.4 million car accidents nationwide. In the same year, 2.9 million people suffered injuries and almost 43,000 were killed. On average, 115 people are killed in auto accidents every day in the United States. Approximately 68 percent of those victims are men. The financial strife that people experience due to car accidents is also overwhelming. In 2005, the estimated financial cost of auto accidents topped $230 billion. Often, these costs are paid out-of-pocket as fewer people are able to afford auto insurance. Most often, auto accidents are caused by negligent driving, driver intoxication, vehicle malfunction, or poor driving conditions. Statistics indicate the young adults--ages 16-25--are the most negligent drivers, causing the majority of auto accidents due to negligent and reckless driving behavior. Driver intoxication is also a major contributor to car accidents in the United States. According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System Encyclopedia (FARS), in 2007, 32 percent of daily auto accidents day involved alcohol-impaired driving. Most fatalities occur in automobiles; however, motorcyclists and pedestrians claim a starting number of deaths. In 2007, approximately 30,000 people were killed in vehicles and 5,100 on motorcycles. In that same year, 5,500 non-motorists, including pedestrians and bicyclists, were killed due to car accidents. Other conditions contribute to fatalities in car accidents as well, including bad weather. In 2007, over 1600 car accidents occurred during rain, snow, or sleet conditions during daylight hours. Surprisingly, the majority of fatalities occurred when weather conditions were normal, and during daylight hours. In 2007, over 18,000 people died in such conditions. To learn more about nursing home abuse lawsuits, premises liability lawsuits, wrongful death lawsuits, personal injury lawsuits, truck accident and motorcycle accident lawsuits, birth injury lawsuits, and medical malpractice lawsuits, it is important to speak with Birmingham, Alabama personal injury attorney Lanny Vines.