Car crashes are disturbingly common. That said, they are not an everyday occurrence for most of the individuals who experience them. Most people will experience, at most, one or two accidents in their entire lives. Quite a few will be fortunate enough to avoid ever going through the pain of an accident.
Without direct experience, it can be easy to misunderstand the realities of a car crash. Looking at car accident statistics can give us important information about what a typical car crash entails. While every accident is unique, the elements of a typical accident can teach us what to look out for.
The Most Common Kinds of Car Accidents in the U.S.
According to the National Safety Council, more than 70 percent of the crashes in 2022 involved a vehicle-to-vehicle collision. Collisions with fixed objects, such as trees or traffic barriers, represented around 20 percent of accidents. This is consistent with prior years.
Single-car accidents are more likely to be fatal than other types of crashes, but they are still the exception rather than the rule.
The most common way that two vehicles collide is in a rear-end collision. Angle collisions are a close second place. Rear-end collisions typically occur while the lead vehicle is decelerating. Perhaps surprisingly, they also typically occurred in daylight and when the weather was clear.
Typical Car Accident Causes
There is no single factor that causes the majority of collisions. Excessive speed, alcohol impairment and distraction are all factors that appear in a significant percentage of crashes. Each is a likely culprit in the rear-end accidents that are such a frequent problem.
All of these causes share something in common. They are all the result of negligent decisions made by drivers. Human error, rather than bad weather or mechanical failures, is the cause of the vast majority of car accidents. A typical car crash is one caused by a negligent driver.
Car Accident Injuries and Wrongful Death
There are millions of car accidents across the United States each year. The majority of these cause no injuries or deaths. Still, millions of people are hurt and tens of thousands of people die in crashes every year.
Injuries and deaths suffered in car accidents are common. These injuries cause victims pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and more. Pursuing compensation for these damages is where personal injury attorneys come into the equation.
Call The Fell Law Firm Today
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a car or truck accident, you need legal guidance. At the Fell Law Firm, our experienced Texas personal injury attorneys can help you seek proper compensation for what you’ve suffered. Contact us online or call us at 972-450-1418 to schedule a consultation.