If you’re like many Americans, you probably use your vehicle to go to work, run errands, or visit other people. Having a car is often the easiest way to get around, and while people are required to get a driver’s license to operate a vehicle, accidents can still happen.
Whether you live in a rural area or a metropolitan city, you may worry about your own safety when you get behind the wheel. After all, even if you try to be a safe driver, you can’t control the actions and behaviors of others on the roads. Car wrecks have many underlying causes, such as bad weather. Still, they usually occur because a driver isn’t following the rules of the road in some capacity.
But, how worried about car accidents should you be? While most of us know that car accidents are always possible, how likely are they? Learn more about car accident statistics in this guide.
What To Do If You’re In A Vehicle Accident
Before diving deeper into the statistics on car wrecks, it’s helpful to be prepared for an accident. You don’t have complete control over others or the environment, so knowing how to act if you’re in a collision can give you peace of mind.
After an accident, you should always call emergency services if necessary. If the wreck didn’t cause any injuries, you should instead contact the local police so they can come and write up a report. It’s best to stay in your vehicle and move to the side of the road until the police arrive.
If, however, you are injured because of another person’s actions, you may want to contact a personal injury attorney for assistance.
Basic Statistics On Car Accidents
According to data from 2020, over 5 million vehicle accidents occurred. Of these accidents, around 35 thousand caused fatalities, while nearly 1.6 million caused injuries. Then, another 3.6 million resulted in property damage.
While these numbers show that car accidents happen frequently, this information only shows so much. So, let’s break down the statistics on vehicle collisions even further, looking beyond just nationwide numbers.
Which State Has The Most Dangerous Car Accidents?
While it’s true that car wrecks happen in every state, some places are more dangerous for driving than others. For example, 2021 data assessed how many car accidents resulted in fatalities. It found fatality rates based on deaths per 100,000 people and deaths per 100 million miles traveled.
According to this data set, Rhode Island and Massachusetts were the safest places to drive, while Mississippi and South Carolina were the most dangerous.
What’s The Impact Of Drunk Driving On Vehicle Collisions?
The two most common causes of car wrecks are speeding and drunk driving.
It’s no secret that driving while intoxicated is extremely dangerous for the drunk driver and everyone else on the road.
The statistics surrounding DUIs are pretty stark. They show that around 35% of all motor accidents where a fatality occurred were caused by impaired drivers. These accidents were also much more likely to occur at night, with only 23% of accidents where drivers had a blood alcohol level of .01 or higher happening during the day.
When the statistics are broken down by state, Montana is where fatality from impaired driving happens the most.
The Importance Of Safe Driving
While no one is a perfect driver 100% of the time, everyone must do their best to stay attentive and follow the laws. Every driver must commit to not driving while under the influence. It’s also important to avoid speeding and other negligent or dangerous behaviors.
Everyone has to do their part to keep each other safe while on the roads.
