The Yearly Motor Vehicle Crash Data on Fatal Car Crashes
Dying from a motor vehicle accident is a reality. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 9,330 people died in motor vehicle accidents for the first quarter of 2023. While this is considered 3.3% lower than the previous year, still, the chances of dying in a car crash are more probable than impossible. According to the National Safety Council, the odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash is 1 in 93. This is equal to 1.075%. We thought we would do a more in depth calculation.
To figure out the chances of dying in a car crash, you just need to do a little math. The chances of dying in car crash over 1 year is roughly 1/4000. Thus, the odds of not dying in any 1 year of driving is 99.975%. The next step is determining how many years an individual will be driving. For example purposes, let’s assume most drivers start at age 16 and drive until they are 79 (the life expectancy of U.S in 2023 is 79.11). So now you must calculate 0.99975^63 because 79-16 is 63. Thus the probability of not dying is 98.43%. Finally, the probability of dying in 63 years of driving is about 1.56%.
If you or a loved one is a car accident victim, you probably want to know if there is a legal action that you can pursue. Car accidents can have serious and lasting consequences. Fatal car accidents are especially devastating and life-changing.
In this article, we talk about car crash statistics and what you can do if a loved one is killed in a car accident. For immediate assistance or inquiries, call a trusted wrongful death lawyer today.
What Are the Odds of Dying in a Car Crash?
In Michigan, a traffic crash occurs every one minute and 48 seconds. Also, one person is killed every seven hours and 48 minutes. No wonder that in June 2023, the Office of Highway Safety Planning stated that Michigan car crash fatalities remain “alarmingly high.” Here are some statistics about motor vehicle collisions in Michigan:
- Traffic accidents increased by four percent, from 282,640 in 2021 to 293,341 in 2022.
- Fatality rates decreased by one percent, from 1,131 in 2021 to 1,123 in 2022.
- In five years, there were more fatal car accidents in Michigan. Records show that fatal accidents are on the rise by 15% (from 974 deaths in 2018 to 1,123 in 2022).
Car crash incidents can be very complex, especially if they involve multi-car collisions or result in to multiple-car accidents. Immediately following a car crash, make sure to speak with a lawyer. Your lawyer can provide legal advice to the victims, especially if negligent drivers cause the lethal car accident.
Factors That Affect the Severity of a Car Accident
Common car accident injuries include bodily physical injuries like fractures, whiplash, sprains, and broken bones and ribs. However, depending on different factors, the injuries of car crash victims may be minor or severe.
Here are some of the factors that can affect the severity of a car accident injury:
Age of the car accident victims
Children and seniors can suffer more severe injuries than middle-aged adults.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, due to age and age-related changes, thousands of older adults in the US die or suffer injuries in traffic crashes. Drivers who are aged 70 or higher have higher death rates in car crashes compared to middle-aged drivers aged 35-45.
On the other hand, motor vehicle crashes are considered the leading cause of death for children (14 years old or younger) in 2021.
Speed of the vehicle
In 2021, 29% of all fatalities in the US were a result of speeding. If a driver is over-speeding, the time for the driver to react in a dangerous situation becomes compromised, which makes the crash more likely to happen.
Use of seatbelt
Statistics show that wearing seat belts reduces the risk of death. In 2017, an estimated 14,955 lives were saved due to seatbelt use. An additional 2,549 lives could have been saved if these persons had worn seatbelts.
Size of vehicle
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a bigger, heavier vehicle provides better crash protection compared to a smaller, lighter unit.
Other factors that may affect the severity of auto accident injuries, aside from those listed above, include:
- The victim’s position (where they were seated) in the car
- Sitting position
- Type of vehicle
- Pre-existing health conditions
- Type of injury suffered
- Availability of safety devices (airbags, for example)
Most Common Reasons for Car Crashes
Drunk driving and speeding are the two top reasons for car crashes in the United States.
Based on the data by the NHTSA, intoxicated drivers caused 13,384 fatalities in 2021. This is a 13% increase from the 2020 figures. On average, about 10,850 people died every year from 2012 to 2021 due to drunk driving.
According to the Michigan Traffic Car Crash Facts (2022), 1,012 motor vehicle drivers were involved in fatal crashes in 2021. Of this figure, 209 (or 20.7%) of these were identified as due to excessive speed.
Other causes of deadly automobile accidents in the US include:
- Distracted driving: Distraction includes any activity that shifts the attention of the driver from their driving task. It does not just include use of cellphone but also talking to passengers, eating or drinking, looking at a billboard, or adjusting the radio or GPS.
- Drug and alcohol usage: A person is considered drugged-driving if he or she is driving a vehicle while impaired due to the effects of recent use of drugs. The effects of the drugs on the driver depends on the specific type of drugs used. Intoxicated driving puts the driver, passengers, and everyone on the road at risk.
- Marijuana slows the reaction time of the driver.
- Methamphetamine and cocaine can cause the driver to be aggressive on the road.
- Opioids were shown to cause drowsiness and doubles the risk of having a crash.
- Reckless driving: Under the Michigan Vehicle Code, reckless driving is operating a motor vehicle with wanton or lawful disregard for the safety of others or of surrounding properties while on a public road, parking lot, public lake, stream, or frozen pond. Reckless or negligent drivers are punished by a fine and jail time in Michigan.
Breach of Duty of Care and the Culpability of the Party Responsible for a Fatal Car Crash
When a driver gets on the road, it is his or her duty to observe care to prevent others from being harmed. Under the law, the driver should exercise the “duty of reasonable care”, otherwise, the driver is considered negligent.
Michigan is a no-fault state. When auto accidents happen, each driver should file a claim with his/her own insurance company, regardless of who is at fault. The Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage will pay for the medical bills and lost wages, up to the limits of the policy. However, the victims will not be compensated for non-economic loss, like pain and suffering.
Instead, the victims of a fatal car crash can go beyond the no-fault system and pursue a case against the negligent driver. The personal injury claim is a civil lawsuit and this should be handled by an experienced auto accident attorney in Michigan.
How to Calculate Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim
In a personal injury claim, the victims have to prove that the at fault driver was negligent. Further, there is a need to prove that the driver’s negligence caused the death, injury, and/or damage to the victim and/or his/her property.
The life of a person cannot be quantified in terms of money. However, judges in a wrongful death claim have to place an amount on the losses suffered by the victims. Several factors are considered in calculating the damages resulting from victim’s wrongful death. Among the damages that may be included in the computation include the following:
- Final medical bills and expenses
- Funeral costs and expenses paid by the beneficiaries
- Lost future earnings
- Mental anguish, pain and suffering, loss of companionship
Wrongful death claim is a complex process and requires a lawyer’s legal expertise and knowledge. It is best to seek advice from a car accident lawyer if you want to seek compensation for the wrongful death of a loved one.
Your Legal Options After a Fatal Car Accident
After a fatal car accident, the family member or dependents of the person who died can pursue insurance claims. The following types of claims can be pursued:
- No-fault benefits
- Wrongful death claim
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
Victims of car crash who are seeking for file wrongful death lawsuit have three years to do so under the laws. Beyond three years, victims or relatives of victims can no longer file for any claim based on the statute of limitations.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation.
If you want to sue for compensation after a fatal car accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at The Clark Law Office. Our lawyers have years of experience when it comes to no-fault insurance benefits, wrongful death claims, survivor’s loss benefits, and other areas related to auto accidents. Every vehicular accident case is unique. Our attorneys can meet with you to talk about the specifics of the case and help you determine the appropriate action to take.
Call us now for a free consultation.
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