The majority of car accidents in the United States are not fatal. Most of them lead to property damage or injuries. However, there are also roughly 40,000 fatalities every year. It’s clear that this is a serious issue that people need to be aware of.
But what factors influence whether or not a car accident is going to become fatal or just lead to injuries and property damage? Below are a few things to consider.
The speed of the vehicles
First and foremost, speed is strongly correlated with fatality odds. The faster someone is driving, the more energy will be enacted on their body during the crash, and the more severe their injuries will be. A car accident at 70 miles an hour is more likely to be fatal than one at 20 miles an hour.
The distance to the hospital
You also want to consider how quick medical care will be to respond. This is one of the reasons that rural roads have a higher fatal accident rate. It’s just that accidents on these more rural streets could be 20 or 30 minutes from the hospital, and that time can make all the difference.
The size of the vehicles
Finally, studies have found that the size of the vehicles plays a major role. When there is a notable mismatch in size, those in the smaller vehicle are much more likely to suffer fatal injuries. This is part of the reason that accidents involving semi-trucks are so likely to be deadly for everyone except the semi driver themselves.
Have you been in a serious accident?
If you have suffered serious injuries in a car accident, or if you’ve even lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, be sure you know what legal options you have.
