National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releases an annual study with an analysis of fatal or non-fatal car accidents reported and their causes. Vehicle safety, driving behavior, state to state correlations and other economic indicators are analyzed. With the staggering number of 6,296,000 car accidents reported in 2015, it is safe to assume that either you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident. Car accidents are costly and sometimes deadly with a reported $44 billion spent nationally in medical and work loss costs, (cdc.org). Car accidents can be categorized by any demographic or road user, but for this purpose, only the top 5 causes of car accidents as identified by the NHTSA will be highlighted.
NHTSA reported in 2015 in the United States there were:
35,092 car accident related deaths.
2,443,000 car accident related injuries.
Estimated approximately 10 million car accidents were not reported.
Top 5 Causes of Car Accidents:
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving was the number one cause in 2015 of car accidents and is projected to continue to top the list for years to come. Distracted driving comes in many forms and is not limited to teen drivers. The NHTSA estimated 660,000 people drive while distracted, causing approximately 3,500 deaths and 391,000 injuries, (nhtsa.org).
- Impaired Driving: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or other substances claimed more than 10,000 lives per year, which equals one person every 50 minutes, (nhtsa.org).
- Speeding and Red Light Running: Speed related car accidents claimed the lives of 9,557 people in 2015, up 3.0% from previous years. Car accidents and injuries or fatalities not only affect the vehicle’s driver, but also its passengers and on some occasions, pedestrians crossing the roadways.
- Weather: Inclement weather often causes unfavorable road conditions and while a few weather-related crashes are out of a driver’s control, extra vigilance is necessary while behind the wheel.
- Drowsy Driving: Fatigue has many costly effects on health and quality of life; furthermore, drowsy driving claimed 846 lives in 2014, (nhtsa.org).
The top 5 causes of car accidents and their outcomes can have lifelong effects. While being a cautious driver is advantageous, it may not help you avoid the unavoidable collision with another vehicle. If you or a loved one has been injured or has become the victim of a car accident, you may be able to recover your damages or loses. Contact Reginald Keith Davis, Attorney at Law, dependability you can trust.