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Car crashes in America are rarely the glamorized, dramatic scenes we see in movies.

If you’ve ever been in or witness to a car crash, you know just how devastating they are. But do you really know how how much car crashes affect American drivers?

If you spend some time behind the wheel, it’s a good idea to be aware of the statistics behind car crashes and how to deal with the aftermath.

Below we’ve compiled a list of 7 important car accident facts. Keep reading if you want to become a more informed driver and stay safer on the roads!

37,000 People Die in Car Crashes in America Every Year

Driving is a way of life in the United States, especially in less urban areas where people rely heavily on cars rather than public transportation. With all the driving that takes place, crashes are inevitable.

The United States loses over 37,000 people a year to car crashes. When you break that down it means that on average, 101.36 people are dying each day in car crashes in America.

Anyone Can Be Involved

Statistics from 2016 broke down the percentages of victims of car crashes. 68% of the fatalities were vehicle occupants, 14% were motorcyclists, and 18% were non-occupants (think pedestrians).

Teenagers Are the Most Risky Drivers

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released motor vehicle safety research that showed that teens from the ages of 16-19 are more at risk to be in a car crash than any other age demographic.

28% of Fatalities Are the Result of Alcohol-Impaired Crashes

Driving under the influence is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. 10,497 people were killed in accidents where the driver was alcohol-impaired.

While alcohol-related accidents are far too common, driving under the influence of drugs other than alcohol (both illegal and legal) resulted in about 16% of motor vehicle accidents. 

Rural Crashes Result in More Fatalities

While more car crashes occur in urban areas, in 2015 57% of the vehicle occupants who were killed in crashes were driving in rural areas. Why is that?

Well, at least some of it can be attributed to lack of seatbelt use. In rural areas 50% of the fatally injured occupants were unrestrained, as compared to only 46% of unrestrained fatally injured occupants in urban areas.

21% of Car Crashes are Weather Related

Over 1/5 of car crashes in the United States are weather related. It should be no surprise that most of these crashes are a result of rain or snow. 46% of weather related crashes occur in rain, while 18% of the crashes occur in snowy or sleeting weather.

4% of People Fall Asleep While Driving

Out of a sample of nearly 150,000 people, 4% reported having fallen asleep at the wheel at least once within the past 30 days. In addition, they found that people who sleep six or less hours at night or snore when they sleep were more likely to report having fallen asleep while on the road.

Put Safety First

Driving is an unavoidable task for many Americans, but it’s important to be cautious when you get into the car. Car crashes in America are avoidable if drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians are mentally and physically fit, using the roads safely, and utilizing appropriate safety measures.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and are seeking legal advice, contact us and let our expert team assist you!

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