Although the number of drivers in America has actually decreased in recent years, the roads have not necessarily gotten much safer. Car accidents still cause millions of injuries and tens of thousands of deaths each year. Many factors contribute to this problem, so addressing just one or two issues is not enough to fix anything.
In 2018, there were only 51,490 drivers compared with 54,549 drivers in 1994 — a difference of 3,059 drivers. However, fatal crashes did not drastically decrease along with the number of drivers. There were 33,654 fatal crashes in 2018 and 36,254 in 1994 — a difference of only 2,600.
Bad driver behavior
A lot of car accidents trace back to bad driving behaviors. Louisiana drivers should always fully focus on the task at hand, but many engage in reckless and dangerous driving habits that put you and everyone else at risk. Some of the more common bad driving behaviors include:
- Texting and driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding
- Drowsy driving
Drunk drivers kill approximately 10,140 people every year in the United States, while distracted drivers kill another 3,142. In 2018, speeding drivers also killed 9,378 people. And if you thought driving without getting enough sleep was not all that bad, you might be surprised to learn that drowsy drivers killed nearly 800 people in 2017 alone.
Age and gender
Driver age is another factor in fatal crashes. According to data from 2018, drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 cause the most fatal accidents. This age group only accounts for about 4% of all licensed drivers but causes 6% of deadly accidents. On the other hand, drivers over the age of 75 cause relatively fewer accidents, accounting for nearly 8% of licensed drivers but causing only 6.5% of fatal accidents.
Men are also more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than women. Male drivers are also more likely to die in car accidents. Males between the ages of 16 and 19 are even twice as likely to die in a fatal accident than their female peers.
Surviving can be traumatic
While many victims consider themselves fortunate to have survived a severe accident, many do not realize the long road they have to recovery. Not only are there physical injuries to contend with, but many victims also suffer emotional trauma. It is not uncommon for crash survivors to develop post-traumatic stress disorder or be scared to ride in a car.
Addressing the significant physical, emotional and financial trauma associated with severe car accidents is no small feat. Like many victims, you might be struggling to pay for basic necessities while you are out of work, not to mention the medical bills related to your recovery. If this is your situation, you may want to explore your options for securing compensation through the careful actions of a personal injury lawsuit.