As you know, there are a range of consequences that can arise due to an automobile accident — the most tragic being the loss of someone’s life. Other damages can and often do occur, including: destruction to vehicles, property, and the various harms to those involved in the accidents. Between the medical expenses, as well as the expenses created due to property damage, car accidents can be quite pricey.
What Do the Numbers Say?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes and fatalities actually increased during the year of 2012. During this time, NHTSA originally reported that 33,561 people died from crashes, while 2, 362,000 people were injured in automobile wrecks. Breaking those figures done into dollars, the average auto liability claim for property damage in 2012 was $3,073, while the average liability claim for bodily injury was $14,653. In fact, based on findings reported back in 2010, every 10 seconds an American is treated for injuries that are connected to a wreck.
There are several different parties that usually end up paying the price for these accidents. For example, private insurance companies typically pay about 50% of the crash costs, while the victims of the accidents usually pay around 26% of the costs. This results in third parties paying about 24% for the price of accidents.
The Different Types of Crashes
Because so many crashes occur and people are continuously being harmed in wrecks, it’s interesting to take a look at the different types of accidents that commonly take place. The following examples seem to happen on a regular basis:
- Drunk Driving
- Speeding
- Running a Red Light
- Sleeping while Tired
- Various Types of Distracted Driving
- Using a Cell Phone
Though these actions cause accidents and various types of damages (property and medical) to take place, it’s been reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that around 10 million crashes actually go unreported each year.
Staying Safe on the Road
As displayed, if you’re involved in an automobile accident, you could find yourself facing a variety of expenses. However, it’s important to remember that the most valuable thing lost in a wreck is a person’s life. It’s important to stay as safe as possible on the ride by making smart choices from behind the wheel. Staying alert on the road can help you avoid the expenses of a car accident.
