There is no situation where anyone wants or chooses to be involved in a car accident, but they are an unfortunate reality.
According to statistics from Driver Knowledge, the average number of car accidents in the United States annually is six million, and more than 90 people die in car accidents each day. There are also three million people injured in the U.S. alone each year because of car accidents and two million drivers experience permanent injuries every year.
While you can’t necessarily prevent the possibility of being in an accident, you can be aware, avoid risks like distracted driving and know the facts.
The following are some of the most dangerous and deadliest types of accidents involving cars.
Pedestrian Accidents
When we think of deadly car accidents, we think about two or more vehicles or trucks being involved, but pedestrians are at risk as well.
Pedestrian fatalities are rising in the United States, and it’s something we should all be aware of. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, there were nearly 6,000 pedestrian fatalities in 2016 in the U.S. There was an 11% increase in pedestrian deaths between 2015 and 2016, and a 22% increase between 2014 and 2016.
Some of the most dangerous states for pedestrian fatalities include Delaware, Florida, South Carolina, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The troubling thing about pedestrian fatalities is their upward trend and how quickly they’re going up.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
Pedestrian-related accidents can fall under the umbrella of single-vehicle accidents, but there are other types of accidents included in this category as well.
55% of traffic fatalities are the result of a single-vehicle crash.
In addition to crashes related to cyclists or pedestrians, these accidents can also include hitting animals, objects, trees or poles.
The reason a single-vehicle accident can be especially dangerous is that vehicles are more likely to go off the road or roll.
SUVs, vans and larger cars are more likely to experience a rollover than smaller cars, but it’s a risk for any vehicle.
During a rollover crash, whether single-vehicle or not, the victims are thrown in different directions and may be thrown outside of the vehicle.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are particularly deadly because they bring the speeds of the two vehicles together. Basically, what that would mean is that if two vehicles involved in a head-on crash were both traveling at 60 mph when they hit, they would hit each other at a speed of 120 mph.
The level of impact with a head-on collision is more severe than many other types of accidents.
Head-on collisions are responsible for around 10% of all automobile deaths.
Having your seatbelt on at all times as well as having an activated, functional airbag can help reduce the risk of death during a head-on crash.
A rollover accident can also occur after a head-on collision.
Pileups
A pileup accident can occur on a busy road or highway, and they involve multiple vehicles.
The more vehicles that are involved, sometimes the worse the injuries and outcomes can be.
During a pileup with multiple vehicle involvement, there is also an increased risk of flying debris, explosions and fires, all of which can cause additional injuries or deaths.
Side-Impact or T-Bone Accidents
A t-bone accident occurs when a vehicle hits another one at a perpendicular angle.
Situations that frequently lead to this kind of accident include when drivers run red lights and they’re at an intersection, or they don’t yield.
The reason this can be an especially dangerous or deadly type of automobile accident is that the side of a vehicle is more vulnerable compared to the front and back of a vehicle.
If the person that hits the side of a car is going fast, it’s going to likely lead to serious injuries or death.
There are certain factors that are considered the top causes of car accidents as well, including the types of accidents named above.
Undoubtedly, distracted driving is the number one reason for most of the car accidents that have occurred over the past ten years.
Distracted driving can stem from texting, talking on the phone, applying makeup, eating, and other factors that lead people to divide their attention and take their eyes off the road.
Drunk driving, speeding, and reckless driving are all some of the other top reasons for automobile crashes.
Being a focused, aware, and defensive driver can help you avoid accidents when you’re on the road and protect yourself and your family.