You know car accidents take tens of thousands of lives every year. You know that your daily commute may be the most dangerous thing you do in your life. You know that you face serious risks on the road. But do you know what those risks really look like? Do you know what the odds of a deadly car accident are?
Technically speaking, a lot of different factors contribute to your personal odds. You can get a general picture just by looking at how many people pass away, but it’s often misleading.
For instance, if you work at home and only drive your car on the weekends, are your odds really the same as a person with a two-hour commute who has to drive at night, when the odds of a Michigan drunk driving accident are highest? Clearly, that person faces greater risks.
Furthermore, pedestrians who have to travel at night will have an increased risk, as the factors that contribute to a deadly car crash, for them, are almost completely out of their control.
Factors that Contribute to the Odds a Deadly Car Crash
With that in mind, here are some of the factors that contribute to your odds of passing away in a crash:
- How many miles you cover annually
- How many hours you spend on the road
- Where you do most of your driving
- How much experience you have behind the wheel
- What type of car you own
- How old you are
- How safely you operate your vehicle
Personal Factors that Contribute to the Odds of a Deadly Car Accident
Some of these are related, of course, such as your age and the experience you have. Younger, less experienced drivers have greater chances of being involved in a serious wreck.
In fact, certain devices exist that help to gather data in the event of a crash. These devices are called “black boxes.” These boxes are part of the reason why our modern crash statistics are so accurate. You’ve probably heard about black boxes in airplanes. But do cars have black boxes? Yes! The data that law enforcement gathers from black boxes can even help your personal injury case.
Regardless, if you lose a loved one in a crash, you must know what legal options you have to seek compensation from the driver who was responsible. For example, suppose a DUI accident occurred and the at-fault driver was a minor who was served alcohol at a bar. The bar may be held liable for damages under Michigan dram shop laws.
Contact an experienced Michigan wrongful death attorney if you’ve lost a loved one to a car accident.