How Common Are Deaths from Car Accidents?

Even though the safety of motor vehicles has vastly improved over the years, far too many people still die because of devastating accidents. Many times, negligent behavior, such as distracted or impaired driving, leads to a fatal crash. Some victims die at the scene of an accident, while others suffer catastrophic injuries that lead to years of suffering before they pass away.

The attorneys with Jones Law Group will be here for you if you have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one due to an accident caused by another party’s negligence. If you would like to schedule a free review of your case, please give us a call at (727) 571-1333 or use our online contact form.

United States Car Accident Fatality Statistics

At first glance, the number of vehicle accident fatalities has exploded since records were first kept in 1913 – more than 800% percent. There were 4,200 vehicle deaths in 1913, and more than 39,000 in 2019. But a closer look at the numbers shows that driving is actually much safer than ever before.

Advances in manufacturing and technology have helped save countless lives. These include backup cameras, stronger frames, blind spot monitoring and other innovations. The numbers of fatalities have gone up, of course, largely because there are more vehicles, and people are driving much more. There were more than 275 million vehicles in use in 2019, compared to between 1.3-2 million more than a century ago.

A more telling statistic is the number of U.S. fatalities per vehicle on the road. Back in 1913, about 33 people died for every 10,000 vehicles. By 2019, that number had plummeted to only 1.41 fatalities – an improvement of 96%. When looking at fatalities per 100,000 population, 1937 saw the worst numbers, with nearly 31 vehicle accident deaths per 100,000 people. The number fell to 11.9 in 100,000 – a 61% improvement.

As encouraging as these drops in fatalities may be, the fact is they still happen far too often – and for a lot of different reasons. Hopefully the day will come where that number goes to zero, but we’re still far away from that becoming a reality.

Florida Car Accident Fatality Statistics

It’s interesting to see just how Florida fatality statistics compare to those of the U.S. as a whole. In 2019, according to the state’s Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department, there were 3,286 fatalities on Florida roads – that’s more than 15 deaths per 100,000 population.

In addition to accidents involving passenger cars, other kinds of vehicular collisions result in a significant number of deaths in Florida each year. Here are a few examples, along with the number of victims who lost their lives in 2019:

•  Bicycle accidents – Total accidents – 5,919/Fatalities – 157
•  Motorcycle accidents – Total accidents – 8,005/Fatalities – 504
•  Pedestrian accidents – Total accidents – 8,072/Fatalities – 699

How Often are People Killed vs. Seriously Injured in Car Accidents?

The Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) reports that a little more than 4 million people are hurt seriously enough in vehicle accidents that they need medical attention. Also, according to ASIRT there are more road accident deaths in the U.S. than in any other high-income country around the world. In fact, the numbers are 50% higher than in countries such as Japan, Canada and Australia, as well as countries throughout Western Europe.

Research indicates that women are not only between 37-73% more likely to be seriously hurt in a car accident, they’re also 20-28% more likely to be killed. One possible explanation is that men, according to researchers, will typically drive larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks.

Also, men tend to cause more rear-end and side-impact wrecks. The drivers who are the cause of those kinds of crashes are typically less likely to be hurt than the people who are on the receiving end of those collisions.

Can You File a Lawsuit On Someone Else’s Behalf After They Pass Away?

If you have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one due to horrible injuries suffered in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you can definitely take legal action. Children, spouses and parents can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the person who was lost in the accident.

Of course, there is no way any amount of money can make up for the loss of a human life. The fact is, however, that a death can leave the surviving members of a family without the emotional and financial support they’ve come to expect. Family members can file a lawsuit for the loss of companionship they’ve experienced, as well as the pain and suffering they’ve been forced to endure. If there is no surviving parent or spouse of a victim, children may file a wrongful death lawsuit if they are 18 or older.

Recovering Damages for a Deceased Loved One After a Car Accident

“Damages” is a legal term that simply means the losses someone incurs due to the negligence of another party or parties. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, for example, your damages can include medical expenses, lost wages and others.

When someone loses a family member and files a lawsuit, they’ll be attempting to obtain wrongful death damages. They can seek this compensation for many things, including the services the deceased person provided, as well as the financial support. If, for example, that person performed the majority of household tasks, that would be thought of as a service.

A spouse could file a wrongful death lawsuit on the grounds of loss of consortium. This means the loss of intimacy in a relationship. Other damages include the funeral costs, as well as any medical expenses the accident victim incurred before passing away.

Hire an Attorney for Your Car Accident Case

In order to recover those damages, however, family members will need the help of an attorney who is very experienced in this area of the law. This will especially be the case if there is any dispute regarding who was at fault for the accident, or if an insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer.

The Jones Law Group has a team of attorneys who have the experience and track record of success it takes to win wrongful death lawsuits. Learn more by using our online form or calling (727) 571-1333 to schedule a free consultation.