Using Car Accident Statistics to Your Advantage

Auto accidents are going to happen to even the most careful of drivers. Safe driving will greatly reduce your chances of being in an accident, but there is not a lot that can be done about unsafe drivers causing an accident that is not your fault. Looking at car accident statistics, it is possible to see a couple of patterns emerge that should give you some guidance regarding what to do and not to do while you drive.

DRINKING AND DRIVING

According to the NHTSA, drinking alcohol and having a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .03 or more results in at least a 20% higher chance of getting into an accident. Once you get up above .10 BAC, which is more than enough for a DUI in Colorado, your chances of getting into an accident are about 10 times higher than someone who has no alcohol in their system. Staying out of the driver’s seat if you have been drinking will significantly reduce the chances of being involved in a crash.

CAR ACCIDENT FATALITIES

The majority of car accidents do not result in a fatality, but there are some numbers that highlight when fatalities are likely to occur. The U.S. Department of Transportation states that about 31% of all traffic-related fatalities were caused when someone was behind the wheel of a vehicle with a BAC of more than .02. Since the late 1960s, car accident statistics show that the total number of people who die in auto accidents has steadily dropping, even though the number of drivers has grown significantly. In addition, the number of fatalities per 100 million miles driven in the U.S. has dropped sharply from about 5 in 1969 to 1.08 in 2014.

SEAT BELTS

Wearing a seat belt was not required in most states until the late 1980s and early 1990s. As early as 1984, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that wearing a seat belt cuts your chances of being injure or dying in a car crash by about 50%.

Getting into an accident that is not your fault can bring you undeserved hardship and pain. Finding a Boulder, CO lawyer who specializes in car accidents can help you receive the compensation you deserve.