There are over 1 billion cars in the world. The US alone had registered 273.6 million vehicles by 2018, with this figure increasing each passing day. These statistics indicate that cars are not going anywhere anytime soon, and they remain our most favorite transportation method.

Unfortunately, due to this high number, human error, and how much we drive, we are vulnerable to car accidents. When these accidents happen, we may lose our lives, sustain severe injuries, or suffer property damage. The potential effects of these accidents can be long-lasting and life-altering.

Car accident victims in Los Angeles usually face a hard time recovering compensation. This is because insurance companies like downplaying the magnitude of their injuries and suffering. They are offered ridiculously low amounts for settlements and even forced to admit liability.

We at the Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney are well-versed with the challenges auto-accident victims face. This is why we are here to help you.

If you or your loved one has been involved in a car accident, we invite you to get in touch with us for a free consultation. We will help you obtain the amount of money you deserve as compensation.

To enable you to understand how common auto accidents are on our roads, we’ve put together some interesting facts and statistics. After reading this article, you will be shocked to learn that fatal crashes are a big menace in our society. However, you will understand better what you can do in case it happens to you.

Risk Factors

Everyone is vulnerable to being involved in a car accident. However, some individuals are more prone to being injured in auto accidents. Below, we analyze various car accident risk factors:

  1. Socioeconomic Status

Most auto-accidents in the US occur in low-income areas. According to the WHO, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be involved in auto-accidents, in comparison to individuals with higher socioeconomic backgrounds.

  1. Age

Individuals who are aged between 0 – 29 years are more likely to be involved in auto-accidents. It is generally perceived that individuals over 30 years tend to be more careful while on the road because they are mature. Most of them tend to observe traffic rules. As a result, they are less likely to get into an accident.

  1. Sex

Males are more likely to be involved in auto-accidents than females. As per the WHO, over 73% of auto accidents involve young males who are below 25 years old. These individuals are three times as likely to die in a car accident, in comparison to their female counterparts.

  1. Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions, including poor eyesight and physical impairment, can increase the risk of an auto accident. According to Science Direct, drivers who are over 50 years are more prone to these conditions.

  1. Inexperience

Inexperienced drivers are more likely to get into car accidents. Science Direct illustrates that both male and female drivers, who are below 29 years old, have a higher risk of being involved in auto accidents due to inexperience.

  1. Time

Most car accidents occur on Saturday and Sunday, between 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Also, the NHTSA has reported that there is a higher risk of auto-accidents during holidays, such as Halloween, Christmas, and Memorial Day.

Causes

There are several causes of car accidents. Let us analyze each of them.

  1. Speeding

Speeding is a leading cause of auto accidents in the United States. In the years 2006 – 2015, approximately 108,554 auto accidents were caused by speeding. This is as highlighted by After Car Accidents.

Currently, speeding accounts for up to 30% of all auto-accidents. In 2015, there were around 10,000 speed-related auto accident deaths. Nearly half of them occurred on roads where the speed limits were higher than 55 mph.

  1. Bad Weather

Driving under adverse weather conditions, including fog, rain, or snow, significantly contributes to the occurrence of auto-accidents. Most Americans understand that driving during adverse weather conditions is dangerous. Here are statistics that show precisely how hazardous this is:

  • In the years 2005 – 2014, the number of weather-related car accidents was 1,258,978

  • Weather-related auto accidents account for 22% of the total number of car accidents

  1. Distracted Driving

California traffic laws prohibit distracted driving. An individual should exercise 100% concentration and focus while driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that any activity that can divert the attention of the driver from concentrating on the road is a distraction. Some examples of these activities include talking on the phone, speaking to passengers, adjusting climate/radio controls, eating, and texting. These activities significantly increase the risk of an accident.

From the years 2010 – 2014, distracted driving contributed to approximately 4.5 million auto-accidents. About 16% of the total number of car accidents during these years was caused by distracted driving.

Cell phone usage is the leading form of distraction. In 2014, there were approximately 69,000 cell phone-related car accidents. Statistics show that these numbers are gradually increasing each year.

Most people believe that it is teenagers who are more prone to this dangerous habit. This belief is not true. Any age group can be a victim of this habit.

  1. Drunk Driving

Alcohol impairs an individual’s motor skills, including reaction time and judgment. A person who is engaging in drunk driving is at a high risk of causing a crash.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28 people die every day in drunk driving accidents. This is equivalent to one death every 53 minutes.

Over the past twelve years, impaired driving has caused approximately 113,000 deaths. Drunk driving contributes to around 30% of the total number of car accident fatalities.

  1. Red Lights

As a motor vehicle driver, you may have attempted to beat a red light. But, you should rethink if it is worth it. In the years 2010 – 2014, approximately 705 people were killed in red light accidents.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) reveals some interesting facts and statistics about red light accidents. Some of these facts and statistics include:

  • Most motor vehicle drivers often run red lights during the afternoons

  • Friday usually has the highest number of red-light violations

  • Sunday frequently has the lowest number of red light violations

  • Holidays, such as Halloween and Memorial Day, normally produce numerous red light violations

  1. Driver Fatigue

Driving while tired is dangerous. In the years 2005 – 2009, driver fatigue contributed to around 1.4% of the total number of car accidents.

Do not let this small percentage fool you. This percentage represents approximately 5,895,000 car accidents during these five years. This means that an average of 83,000 auto-accidents occur each year due to driver fatigue. Also, in these years, around 1,004 people were killed in car accidents caused by driver fatigue.

Types

Car accidents can occur anywhere, at any time, and in diverse situations. The degree and extent of the injuries sustained will depend on the impact force of the crash and how it occurred. Here are the top 4 most common types of car accidents:

  • Rollover accidents

  • Rear-end collisions

  • Side-impact collisions

  • Head-on collisions

Rollover crashes are violent and complex. They can occur due to reckless driver behavior and poor environmental and road conditions. Also, the type of vehicle plays a crucial role in the occurrence of the accident. According to Safer Car, rollover accidents usually have the highest number of fatalities, and they account for approximately 35% of the total car passenger deaths.

A rear-end collision occurs when one car crashes into another vehicle that is in front of it. It is the most common type of auto accident in the United States. The Washington Post asserts that there are around 1.7 million rear-end collisions on USA roads each year.

Side-impact collisions are also referred to as T-bone or broadside collisions. In these accidents, the impact force is directed towards one or more sides of the vehicle. Side-impact collisions frequently occur at parking lots and intersections. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), they account for around 25% of car passenger occupant deaths.

In most cases, head-on collisions are fatal. They occur when the frontal ends of two cars hit each other in opposite directions. The IIHS illustrates that although head-on collisions comprise only 2% of the total number of car accidents in the United States, they account for 10% of the total number of fatal crashes.

Deaths

According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT), around 1.35 million people are killed in road accidents each year. Approximately 3,700 people die each day due to road carnage. Auto accident injuries are deemed to be the eighth leading cause of death in the world, amongst people of all age groups. More people are killed in road crashes than those who die from HIV/AIDS.

Vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists, account for more than 50% of road accident deaths. The primary cause of death among young individuals of ages 5 – 29 is road carnage, and young adults of ages 15 – 44 account for at least 50% of road-accident deaths. The greatest cause of death among USA citizens traveling abroad is road accidents.

In the US, over 38,000 people are killed each year in road accidents. At least 100 people die each day due to road accidents. The US fatality rate is 12.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. The USA suffers the highest number of auto-accident deaths in comparison to other high-income countries, including the UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada. The leading cause of death for individuals in the US who are below 54 years old is road accidents.

The IIHS highlights that California recorded approximately 3,563 deaths due to auto-accidents in 2019. A huge portion of these deaths involved passenger cars.

According to LiveStories, approximately 874 people died in auto accidents in Los Angeles in 2017. Males are more prone to dying in car accidents, in comparison to females. Also, African Americans are highly vulnerable to being killed in auto-accidents.

Injuries

Car accidents are the leading cause of personal injuries in the world. According to ASIRT, approximately 20 – 50 million people in the world sustain severe bodily injuries in car accidents. In most cases, these injuries result in long-term disabilities.

The societal and economic impact of auto-accidents costs USA citizens up to $871 billion each year. The direct medical expenses for road crashes are over $380 million annually. Also, the average work time lost amounts to $33 billion annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) affirms that auto-accident crashes cost most countries up to 3% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The most common injury in a car accident is whiplash. Abrupt movement of the neck and head, especially in a rear-end collision, can result in severe neck ligament and muscle damage.

According to Driver Knowledge, around 6 million car accidents occur in the US each year. Up to three million people sustain injuries annually from these car accidents. Also, approximately two million drivers in road accidents sustain permanent physical injuries each year. Moreover, most USA road accidents result in 6% fatalities, 27% non-fatality injuries, and 72% property damage.

The CDC highlights that Americans spend more than one million days in hospital nursing auto-accident injuries. In 2012, over 2.5 million Americans were admitted to the emergency departments of various hospitals. Averagely, each accident-related emergency department visit costs approximately $3,300. If an individual sustains a permanent injury, he/she may spend around $57,000 in his lifetime for medical expenses. For every person who dies in an auto accident, eight people are hospitalized, and an additional 100 people are treated and released from the emergency departments of various hospitals.

California has the highest number of registered motor vehicles in the USA. It also reports the highest number of fatal auto accidents annually.

According to a report by the Road Ecology Center at the University of California, the average number of auto-accidents is 500 each day. Those with injuries are around 400 each day.

Safety Devices

Various safety devices can reduce the risk of severe bodily injuries and deaths in the event of a car accident. Here is a brief discussion of these safety devices:

  1. Airbags

Airbags are specifically designed to inflate in the event of a crash. The Federal Government requires car manufacturers to install both passenger and driver airbags.

According to the NHTSA, airbags can save the lives of individuals who are 13 years and older. The fatality reduction rate for frontal airbags is 14% when there are no seatbelts and 11% when there are seatbelts.

  1. Seatbelts

In 2017, seatbelts saved around 14,955 lives. Car passengers who do not wear seatbelts have a higher risk of death in the event of an accident. When one combines seatbelts with airbags, the risk of sustaining a severe bodily injury or dying at an accident scene dramatically reduces.

The NHTSA asserts that seatbelts reduce the risk of fatal injuries to front-seat car passengers by 45% and the risk of moderate injury by 50%. Individuals who do not wear seatbelts are 30 times more likely to be ejected from the car in the event of an accident.

  1. Motorcycle Helmets

Helmets are crucial in reducing the risk of injuries and deaths in car-motorcycle accidents. Typically, motorcyclists sustain catastrophic head injuries when they are hit by cars because they are unexposed. Helmets can significantly reduce the risk of head injuries.

The NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017. Moreover, it asserts that an additional 742 motorcycle riders could have been saved had they worn helmets. Helmets are 37% effective in preventing fatalities to motorcyclists and 41% effective for motorcycle passengers.

  1. Child Safety Seats

Airbags and seatbelts are not effective in reducing the risk of fatalities in children during accidents. This is why you will require child safety seats. According to the NHTSA, in 2017, restraints saved approximately 325 children who were below five years old.

  1. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

The NHTSA requires all motor vehicles manufactured after 2012 to have ESC. All new SUVs, passenger cars, vans, and light trucks should comply with this requirement.

ESCs can prevent rollovers and other types of car accidents by controlling engine power and brakes. According to the NHTSA, between 2011 – 2015, the ESC has saved over 7,000 lives.

Property Damage

In a fatal car accident, it is most likely that the victims will suffer property damage. Their motor vehicles may be destroyed, or they may lose some of their personal belongings.

According to the III, property damage often occurs in auto accidents, regardless of whether or not they are fatal. Just in 2018, there were approximately 4.8 million car crashes involving property damage.

Personal Injury Claims

If you have never been involved in an auto accident, you should consider yourself lucky. Or probably, you are just long overdue.

According to Forbes, the automobile insurance industry estimates that every person files a car accident compensation claim once every 17.9 years. This means that if you are an average driver, you will most likely be involved in a car accident at least once in your lifetime. For instance, if you received your driver’s license when 16 years old, you will have been involved in a crash by the time you are 34 years old. Over your lifetime, you will have experienced around 3 – 4 accidents. However, 75% of these accidents will not be deadly.

In 2010, the average value for a car accident claim was $23,450. Rising medical costs significantly exacerbate this large amount. Severe bodily injuries usually fetch a much higher compensation amount.

Most insurance companies downplay car accident compensation claims. They do not care about the welfare of their customers, and their primary goal is to make as much profits as possible.

These companies do an excellent job of advertising their auto insurance products. But, often, they will not give you value for your money in the event of an accident.

As a general rule, you shouldn't accept the first offer for a settlement issued by an insurance company when claiming for compensation. In most cases, this first settlement offer is undervalued, and it does not reflect the degree and extent of your injuries.

Sometimes, the insurance company may be utterly adamant about paying you what you deserve. In these situations, your attorney can institute a car accident lawsuit to help you obtain fair compensation.

In the US, most civil cases constitute personal injury lawsuits. These lawsuits are instituted under the provisions of the Tort Claims Act.

According to the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, the majority of personal injury cases disposed of in US courts involved auto-accident complaints. About 75% of them do not reach the trial stage. It is only 3% of them that are determined by trial. Auto-accident personal injury lawsuits are often settled within a shorter period.

Wrongful Death Claims

If your loved one died in a car accident, you could file a wrongful death claim with the insurance company of the at-fault party. If the insurance company fails to offer you fair compensation, then you can institute a wrongful death lawsuit.

Typically, the damages awarded in a wrongful death lawsuit are usually much higher than those issued in a personal injury lawsuit. These damages typically cover all the financial expenses associated with the loss of your loved one, including burial and funeral expenses. They may also cover loss of consortium, loss of support and companionship, mental grief, depression, and anguish.

Unlike personal injury lawsuits that take only a couple of months to be determined, wrongful death lawsuits can span through several years. The average settlement period for a wrongful death lawsuit is between 1 – 4 years.

The settlement amounts for a wrongful death lawsuit can range from several hundred thousand dollars to tens of millions of dollars. These amounts vary depending on several factors, including the circumstances of the death of your loved one and how the at-fault party caused the crash.

Find a Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney Near Me

If you have been injured in a car accident, get in touch with the Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney for professional legal help. We will ensure you obtain fair compensation. Call us today at 424-237-3600.