What are the Chances of Dying in a Car Crash?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there is around a 1% chance of dying in a car crash daily. Although this number may seem slight, there are several other factors that increase your chances of getting involved in a car accident fatality. Car accident fatalities are especially common in congested cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Your odds of dying in a car accident are more likely than your odds of dying from drowning.

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, in the year 2020, there were around 4,000 motor vehicle deaths. This number increased from the number of deaths reported in 2019. This number also takes into consideration that there was a dramatic decrease in drivers on the road since March of 2020 due to covid-19 lockdowns. The majority of these deaths in California were made up of regular vehicles and sedans. Motorcycle accident fatalities came in second. Almost all states witnessed an increase in their car accident fatalities, including populated states like Arizona and Nevada.

If you have experienced any injuries, or have a loved one who has passed away due to a car accident, it is important to hire a car accident fatality attorney immediately to determine the different legal claims you can make against the negligent parties. The negligent parties could range from the other drivers involved in the car accident, to a car manufacturer. Each case must be determined on an individual basis. To better determine the merits of your case, call us to schedule a free no risk consultation where our attorneys will discuss all different legal options you can take.

 The chances of dying in a car crash are increased when other factors also come into play. These other factors may include, but are not limited to:

1.  the amount of driving done by the driver that day: increased hours coupled with long distances can tire a driver.
2. driving while intoxicated is also another factor that increases the risk of being involved in a car accident fatality. Intoxication causes blurry vision onto the driver. Specifically, in California, 35% of all car accidents fatalities involved drunk driving. Nevada has similar numbers with 33% of all car accident fatalities involving drunk driving. If you or a loved one have been involved in a vehicular accident due to drunk driving, contact our Los Angeles car accident attorneys immediately to help build your case. Visit our page for more information on drunk driving fatal accidents.
3. age: the driver’s age can substantially increase the chance of getting involved in a car crash fatality. Young male teenagers aged 16 to 19 years old have a more likely chance of getting involved in a fatality according to the National Safety Council.
4. gender: a driver’s gender also statistically makes an impact on the risk of getting involved in a car accident fatality. Men are more likely to get involved in a car accident fatality than women.

Common Causes of Car Accident Fatalities

1. Speeding is a very common cause of car accidents fatalities. When speeding, drivers have less time to apply the brakes and usually end up rear ending the car in front of them.
2. Severe car accidents also lead to car accident fatalities. Those who experience extreme trauma to the face or back may end up having medical complications which results in a fatality.
3. Not wearing a seat belt increases your chance of getting involved in a car accident fatality. Because of the strong abrupt impact, drivers are thrown to the other side of the car, sometimes even out of the window.
4. Poor weather: icy and slippery roads make driving and braking harder.
5. Tailgating: tailgating is a driving method where one car drives close to the rear end of another car. Tailgating can result in a severe car accident, especially when the front car abruptly brakes.
6. Road Rage: road rage occurs when drivers aggressively drive on the road. Usually, many end up in arguments or fights with other cars. Contact our road rage accident attorneys if you have experienced this type of behavior.

Who’s Responsible in a Car Accident Fatality?

There are several defendants that can be responsible in a car accident fatality. These defendants can include:

1.  the other driver of the car: the other driver of the car who caused the accident can be financially liable for any injuries sustained onto other drivers.
2.  the car manufacturer: the car manufacturer could be liable in a car accident fatality when any of the cars involved in the accident had a defect. A car accident fatality lawyer must prove that there was a defect at the time of the accident. That is why it is important to always preserve the car and document all damages after an accident. Another critical step drivers must take after an accident is getting contact information from other witnesses, along with insurance information from the other drivers. For more information on what to do after an accident, please contact one of our attorneys.

 Who could file a claim for a car crash fatality?

Under California law, certain people could file a claim for a deceased person. This is referred to as a wrongful death claim. Individuals who could file a wrongful death claim on behalf of the deceased may include siblings, parents, or children of the deceased. Family members could receive various types of damages from the wrongful-death claim, which include funeral expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and medical bills. The value of the damages depends on the type of claim being brought, along with what injuries the deceased sustained before passing away. It is also very important to adhere to the state’s deadlines when filing a wrongful death suit. Each state has a different type of statute of limitation for legal claims. Our car accident fatality attorneys suggest filing a legal claim as soon as possible. Missing a deadline will prevent a plaintiff from recovering any type of damage from the defendant.

We have offices all around the states of California and Nevada to better suit your needs. We are readily available online and through the phone. We have offices in major cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Irvine. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation today. Our attorneys also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we are not paid until we win your case. For more information on contingency fees, visit our page.

***Disclaimer: This blog is created by Heidari Law Group for educational purposes. This article provides a general understanding of the law. It does not provide specific advice. By using this site and reading through this blog, there is no attorney-client relationship created between you and any member of Heidari Law. Further, due to the constant change of the law, some parts of the information above may no longer be good law.