Thousands of people die in car accidents every year in California and around the country. According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 36,096 fatal car accidents in the U.S. in 2019.
Car accidents can be caused by many different factors from road conditions to driver behavior. Here are three interesting car crash facts:
#1: Most fatal accidents are single-vehicle
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that 53% of the fatal car accidents that happened in 2019 involved only one vehicle. While multi-car pileups can be devastating, most fatal car crashes only involve one vehicle.
#2: Speeding and intoxication are the most dangerous driving behaviors
When you look at fatal crash statistics, it’s clear to see what dangerous driving behaviors are the worst. The NHTSA says that more than 10,000 people die every year in accidents that involve drunk drivers. In 2018, speeding was involved in 9,378 car accident fatalities. Other dangerous driving behaviors include:
• Distracted driving (3,142 deaths in 2019)
• No seat belts (2,549 deaths in 2017)
• Drowsy driving (795 deaths in 2017)
#3: There were more crashes in 2020 than 2019
A surprising fact from 2020 was that there were more fatal car accidents that year than in 2019. According to the National Safety Council, 42,060 fatal car accidents occurred in 2020, which was an 8% increase from 2019. This was surprising because vehicle miles traveled decreased by 13% due to the lockdown.
Compensation for car accident injuries
If you were injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Injured car accident victims typically pursue financial compensation for damaged property, loss of income and medical expenses.