The US Department of Transportation said that car accident is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the country, killing at least 43,000 people every year.
With the seriousness of car accident aftermath, many studies have focused in finding the causes and trends about this preventable accident.
Some remarkable findings about car accidents conducted by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System in 2007:
• Thirty-two percent of deaths involving car crashes was caused by drunk driving.
• The occupant fatality rate decreased by 8.5 percent compared to the previous year.
• Twelve midnight to 3 am is the period when most car accidents occurred.
Economic Costs (based on the study made by motorist advocacy group AAA)
• Each year, car accidents cost each American more than $1,000 (the cost includes police service, lost of productivity, property damage, medical expenses, emergency service, and loss of lives).
• Auto accident is two-and-a-half more expensive than traffic jams in the country. According to the advocacy group, road congestion costs around $67.6 billion every year, or $430 for each individual.
• People living in urban areas with a population of more than 3 million pay two times the cost of traffic jams for car accidents.
• People living in small towns with a population of less than 500,000 pay seven times the cost of traffic congestion.
Legal Consequences of Car Accidents
• If a driver hit a pedestrian and did not stop, it is considered to be a criminal offense.
• In the US, personal injury claims is the most common type of tort law that will allow victims to be rightfully compensated.
• Some states administer the suspension of a driver’s who has violated the traffic rules.
• In some states like South Carolina, all traffic violations have been criminalized.
• Some states have its criminal law separate from its traffic law.
Some Common Causes of Car Accidents
• Using mobile phone while driving. In California alone, nearly 4,700 car accidents involved cell phone use behind the wheel, resulting to 30 deaths and 2,800 injured every year.
• Road design. According to a study, nearly 30 percent of car accidents are caused by poor roadway design.
• The vehicle’s design and its condition. According to a study, SUVs are prone to rollover crash with its higher center of gravity. Some vehicles which are vulnerable to rollover are: Isuzu Trooper, Suzuki Samurai, Ford E-series, Ford Bronco II, Mitsubishi Pajero and Montero, and Jeep CJ.
• Poor vehicle maintenance. Breaks and tires which are in a bad condition are one of the most common causes of road accidents worldwide.
• Driving above or below the average speed. According to the US Department of Transportation, driving below the average speed makes people more vulnerable to accident than driving above the speed limit (this finding contradicts the common belief that slow drivers are safer).
• Driving under the influence of alcohol. This substance is proven to diminish a person’s reflexes and decision-making skills, making him prone to road accidents.
• Heavy rain or snow. Bad weather condition also accounted for many car crashes in the country.
• Reckless driving.
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