One of the leading causes of all deaths and disabilities is car accidents, according to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), which examined the impact that motor vehicle accidents have worldwide.
The same study also explored what types of car accidents are the leading causes of such accidents, as well as what can be done to prevent serious or fatal car accidents worldwide. Our South Carolina car accident attorneys break down what you should know.
Car accidents often result in severe and fatal injuries
Every year, roughly 1.9 million people worldwide die as a result of car accidents, according to the WHO. In addition, 20 to 50 million people each year, on average, sustain a non-fatal injury that often results in a disability.
Among certain age groups, car accident fatalities are the leading cause of death. In particular, fatal car accidents are the leading cause of death among children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 29.
What are the most common causes of car accidents?
Certain risk factors often result in serious or fatal car accidents worldwide. According to the WHO, the most common causes of car accidents include:
- Speeding, which "is directly related both to the likelihood of a crash occurring and to the severity of the consequences of the crash."
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
- Not wearing a seatbelt, helmet, or other proactive gear.
- Distracted driving, which often involves the use of a cell phone. In fact, "drivers using mobile phones are approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers not using a mobile phone," according to the WHO.
Car accident deaths on the rise in South Carolina
Sadly, car accident fatalities in South Carolina have only increased in recent years. According to the most recent car accident fatality data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2021 was the deadliest year in South Carolina in more than a decade. Specifically, 1,198 people died in car accidents in South Carolina that year.
Common causes of car accident fatalities in South Carolina include:
- Speeding – 486 people died in 2021 in South Carolina due to speed-related accidents.
- Drunk driving – 401 fatalities in South Carolina in 2021.
- Not wearing a seatbelt – 379 deaths in 2021.
Best ways to prevent car accidents
The WHO offered several suggestions for how to best prevent a car accident, including:
- Educating drivers about the dangers of speeding, distracted driving, and other high-risk factors.
- Designing roads that are safer and reduce drivers' ability to speed or engage in other high-risk forms of driving.
- Building vehicles with better safety design features designed to protect drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
- Increased police enforcement.
Seeking legal help after a car accident in South Carolina
You might think you don't need to talk to a lawyer if another driver hits and injures you in a car crash. After all, South Carolina has an at-fault car insurance system. That means the at-fault party is responsible for the victim's accident-related expenses. However, there can be a lot at stake after a serious or fatal crash. That's why the at-fault driver and their insurance company often do everything possible to avoid taking responsibility for the victim's losses.
When this happens, our South Carolina car accident lawyers at Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law can help take a stand and demand the money you deserve. Our legal team knows exactly how the system works in South Carolina. That's because our attorneys were born and raised here and have worked here their entire lives.
Get a South Carolina law firm that's serious about winning your case. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a Lexington, SC, car accident attorney focused on your best interests.
