Your Odds of Getting into a Car Accident

Last updated Wednesday, September 6th, 2023

What You Need to Watch Out For to Stay Safe On the Roads

The average driver gets into 4-5 car accidents in his lifetime.

The consequences are unpredictable. You don’t know whether you’ll end up with a few bumps and bruises or a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures. But it doesn’t mean the causes are unavoidable.

In fact, car accident fatalities top the list of preventable deaths in America – nearly 38,000 lives every year.

A few basic driving precautions are all you need to take to prevent a car accident. Even if you get into an accident, you’ll be able to avoid the worst-case scenario of suffering a disability or a life-threatening injury.

So until self-driving technology really proves itself beyond doubt, you still have to take charge of the wheel responsibly.

Grasping the Reality of Car Accidents

There are over 6 million car accidents in the United States every year and four car accident injuries happening every minute. They cause over $800 billion in damages. Most car crashes aren’t fatal, but thousands result in fatalities due to human error.

Most victims are able to make a full recovery within a few days to a few months. But the sudden physical and financial toll can derail their life for a long time.

Struggling with hospital bills, insurance claims, job loss, and mental anguish while you recover can feel like fighting off a straitjacket. There are way too many responsibilities and not enough resources to deal with them alone.

There was a notable 22 percent drop in car crashes between 2019 and 2020. However, it’s hardly surprising since the pandemic lockdown ensured everyone stayed home. The real test is how auto safety features will evolve to minimize fatal car accidents. We’ve seen promising advances and results on that front over the last few years.

Cars with Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) can potentially help cut down car accident fatalities by 25 percent. Their in-built navigation and collision warning systems help drivers smoothly figure their way out of tight spots without any stress. It helps even beginner-level drivers make their way through daily traffic and parking challenges easily.

A recent report by a risk management company revealed something remarkable. Cars with ADAS reported a 27 percent drop in injury claims and a 19 percent reduction in property damage claims.

We’ve come a long way from the 1960s when the only big driver safety mechanism was a two-point seatbelt.

Here are the common safety features offered by most cars in America these days:

• Three-point seatbelts
• Dual-front airbags
• Resilient car body design
• Backup camera
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Automatic Braking System (ABS)

There used to be 5.1 fatalities for every 100 miles driven on American roads in 1960. Thanks to these safety advances, there are only 1.1 fatalities for every 100 miles driven today.

However, no car is safe in the hands of an irresponsible driver. You have to use these features effectively to make them count. You owe it to yourself and to the lives of thousands of other motorists who share the roads with you every day.

Getting your driver’s license isn’t just a one-time test you have to clear. You’ll face the same test on the roads every time you drive for work, drop your kids to school, or pick up the groceries.

The Leading Causes of Car Accidents

Most people want to forget their car accidents like a bad memory. But it won’t make their life any easier if they ignore the cause of the accident. You need to present detailed evidence to prove the cause of the accident if you want your insurance payout to come through.

There are various reasons behind car accidents, such as:

• Distracted driving – Living in the digital era means living in a sea of distractions. You’re roaming around with a phone that’s constantly buzzing with notifications tempting you to pick it up. Even your car is loaded with cool music systems and navigation screens that keep drawing your attention. Eating and drinking on the road can be messy and demand your attention too. It takes less than one second for you to lose control while traveling at high speeds if you give in to these distractions. Talking on the phone or texting while driving leads to over 8 percent of all car crashes.
• Drunk driving – Intoxicated drivers cause over 10 percent of fatal car crashes. It’s a criminal act of negligence that can cause devastating damage to drivers and pedestrians. Taking drugs or alcohol can impair your reaction time and distort your vision.
• Speeding – Why do you see so many different speed limit boards everywhere you go? These limits are set after accounting for the average traffic and road conditions in each zone. Ignoring them and breaking the speed limits will minimize your reaction time when an obstruction pops up. Nearly one-third of all car accidents are caused by speeding.
• Reckless driving – The stress of traffic can bring out the worst in some drivers. Everyone is racing against time to reach their destination looking for the fastest way to cut through the obstructions. Their stress and impatience ends up sabotaging their good judgment. They start driving aggressively by recklessly overtaking or tailgating other drivers. It significantly increases the chances of a fatal crash.
• Driving in bad weather conditions – Navigating through heavy rain or a snowstorm can be challenging even for experienced drivers. There’s poor visibility and also a serious risk of your car skidding on the road. You may have to drive at half the speed limit of a normal sunny day to reach your destination safely.
• Disobeying traffic signals – Intersections, roundabouts, and exits are tough to navigate. There are drivers all around you breaking into a new path. Following traffic signals is the only way to organize traffic patterns safely. you want to go. Ignoring stop signs and running red lights is gambling with your life.
• Nighttime driving – A lot of drivers have problems with reduced visibility at night, especially those who already have vision impairments. There’s also a higher chance of you feeling drowsy during late hours. Nearly 1500 deaths are caused by drowsy driving each year.

Car Crash Statistics in Georgia

Georgia recorded the fourth-highest number of car accident fatalities out of all American states. Car crashes also account for the second biggest cause of hospitalizations in Georgia.

There were 15 deaths in car accidents per 100,000 Georgia residents reported in 2022. And guess what? There are no signs of these harsh facts becoming any less harsh in 2023.

A majority of car crashes happen during the morning work rush hours and night hours.

Prioritizing Accident Prevention and Preparedness

Want to know how to steer clear of car accidents? Switch from a reactive to a proactive safety approach. A vigilant and prepared driver will be able to spot dangers on the road much faster than a distracted and reactive driver.

Here are some proactive measures to help you prevent accidents:

• Keep an eye on other cars around you to see if they’re driving safely
• Check your rearview and side mirrors regularly
• Always use your car signals while changing lanes, parking, and turning
• Avoid driving or drive slowly during bad weather conditions
• Keep an eye on the road for potholes, ice, or any other debris
• Follow all traffic signals properly
• Drive with a calm and focused mind without handling any distractions

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