There are thousands of car accidents in the United States every day. As a result, there are tens of thousands of deaths annually. Personal injury from a car accident comprises most personal injury claims every year. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that there were 33,244 fatal car crashes in the United States in 2019, where 36,096 people died.
An additional 2.74 million people suffered injuries that same year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That NHTSA notes that this data indicates there are on average 99 fatalities every day from a car accident. There are 7,507 people injured in the United States in car accidents every day. That number is high.
America experiences more car accident fatalities and injuries than any other first-world country. America is home to approximately 50 percent more accidents than Europe, Canada, and Japan, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT).
The ASIRT also says that car accidents cost America over $380 million annually in medical costs alone. Traffic fatalities cost America $55 billion in medical expenses and lost wages in 2018.
In the state of California alone, car accidents cost $49 million in medical expenses and $5.79 billion in lost wages in 2018. The most common causes of car accidents are negligence on the roads. If you have been in a car accident in California, you may have a standard negligence claim if you are not at fault.
In addition, when another driver is negligent, and you are injured as a result of that negligence, you can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for those damages. At Arash Law, our car accident lawyers have been helping California residents recover compensation for their losses after a car accident for decades. Call us today at (888) 488-1391 for a free review of your case.
Car Accidents in the United States Every Day
There are thousands of car accidents in the United States every day, which result in hundreds of deaths. There are a number of factors that are looked at when it comes to examining car accident data. When we look at car accident claims, we look at what caused the accident, who is at fault, and damages:
- The NHTSA notes that there were 6.74 million police-reported auto accidents in the United States in 2019, which makes for approximately 17 thousand auto accidents in the United States daily.
- 6 percent of 2019 auto accidents suffered at least one fatality, with 99 deaths in 2019.
- Approximately 1 in 3 auto accidents result in non-fatal personal injury.
- More fatalities in urban areas occurred in 2019 than in rural auto accidents.
- In 2019, 19,595 fatalities occurred in urban crashes, compared to over 16,340 fatalities in rural crashes.
- There were approximately 28 deaths per day in 2019 caused by drinking and driving, which is approximately 1 person every 50 minutes.
- Approximately 17 pedestrians died daily in 2019 from a car accident; 208 pedestrians daily were injured.
- Damages from auto accidents in the United States include medical costs, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering to start.
At Arash Law, our accident lawyers can help you to recover the damages caused by car accidents. If you have been injured in a car, call us at (888) 488-1391 to book a free review of your case. We’ve been recovering millions for car accident victims for decades, and we know what you need to win.
Causes of Fatal Car Accidents in the United States
The most common causes of car accidents in the United States are drinking and driving, distracted driving, and reckless driving. American car accident data from the NHTSA indicates the costs of fatalities:
- In 2019, 9,236 car accidents were caused by drinking and driving and resulted in fatalities.
- Speeding is a kind of reckless driving, which resulted in 9,478 fatalities on the roads in 2019.
- Alcohol and speeding combined cost America 201 billion in comprehensive costs in 2010.
- Marijuana users have a 25 percent greater chance of being in a car accident than those who don’t consume marijuana.
- Approximately 6,205 pedestrians died after being hit by a car in 2019, with one report linking that number to increased smartphone use in the car.
- 3,142 car accident fatalities in 2019 were caused by distracted driving.
- 697 fatalities caused by car accidents in 2019 were the result of drowsy driving.
Alcohol and Fatal Accidents in the United States
Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is a criminal offense in California, as well as the United States. Driving while intoxicated or high will impair judgment, slow reaction time, and increase the risk of drowsy driving or falling asleep at the wheel. When the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches the legal limit of 0.08%, muscle coordination is slowed.
Speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing are impaired. It is more difficult to detect danger, and self-control and reasoning skills are significantly impacted. Other human factors impaired:
- Concentration
- Short-term memory loss
- Speed control
- Perception
- Information processing
There are thousands of fatalities a year caused by drinking and driving. The law takes a zero-tolerance approach to this crime, with a graduated approach to consequences. The more offenses a driver has, the tougher their consequences will be for every offense. Penalties for driving under the influence include:
- Charges for DUI can be either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the circumstances.
- In 2019, there were 646,607 arrests nationwide for driving under the influence.
- Driver’s license revocation
- Fines (a first-time offense can still cost $10,000 in fines and legal costs)
- Ignition interlock devices
- Jail
When it comes to drinking and driving, the penalties are immediate. The penalties will vary depending on the circumstances at the time of the charge. For example, if an individual is charged and they are alone and caught during a traffic stop, their consequences will not be as severe as a charge resulting from a fatal crash.
In addition to criminal consequences, the driver will be considered at fault in the accident. Under California law, that will mean that they will be held liable for most claims resulting from the accident, and sometimes all of them under California’s comparative negligence laws. After you have been in a car accident in the United States, you must report the accident if damages are less than $750.
In the state of California, if you do not stop your vehicle and report a car accident, the penalties are serious. You or the other driver could face jail time for failing to report an accident. If you have been injured or are suffering a loss such as a wrongful death as a result of drinking and driving, call us.
Call us at (888) 488-1391 for a free review of your case. We have represented victims of drinking and driving for decades. We can help you get the compensation you deserve. You won’t pay anything out of pocket when we are fighting for you.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries
Anything can happen in a car accident, from loss of life to loss of limb and every injury in between. However, the most common categories of injuries in car accidents include impact injury and penetrating injury. A penetrating injury is a scrape, abrasion, or wound caused by a penetrating object such as broken glass or an object thrown inside the vehicle. An impact injury occurs when a body part hits a component of the car.
These categories can be broken down into most common personal injuries from a car accident:
- Soft tissue damage – muscles, ligaments, tendon damage like whiplash
- Scrapes, cuts, and wounds – When an object of any kind impacts your skin through the force of a car accident, it often becomes a serious injury.
- Head injuries – such as concussions, head wounds, or traumatic brain injuries
- Chest injuries – including wounds, bruises, fractures, and internal injuries
- Arm and leg injuries – fractures, wounds, and amputation
This list is not exhaustive and only covers the most common kinds of personal injury resulting from a car accident in the United States. If you have been injured in a car accident and do not see your injury here, that doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve compensation. If you have suffered a personal injury, you should document the entire accident as early as possible.
Keep track of all of your medical documentation, and don’t take any settlement offers from the other driver or your insurance company until you talk to a lawyer in your area. We can help you to get the compensation you deserve. Brain injuries are very common after a car accident. You may not even know you have one at first. If you are having headaches or problems with your head after a car accident, call the brain injury attorney team at Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 for help with your car accident case. Book a consultation for a free review of your case.
Contact California Personal Injury Lawyers Today
In California, over three thousand people die every year from a car accident, and thousands more are injured. If you have become one of the thousands of Americans suffering from car accident injuries today, call the personal injury team at Arash Law. We have recovered millions for car accident victims for years. We will review your case for free. We don’t get paid unless you win. Connect with us online to leave us your information, or call (888) 488-1391 to book a consultation today.
