How Many Car Accidents Will an Average Person Have in a Lifetime?
There are so many major milestones in a person’s life, and so many activities we take for granted. For instance, an average person spends one-third of their lifetime asleep, which means about 25 years in bed. That same person will take more than 216 million steps in their life. There are calculations and estimates for almost everything, including car accidents in an average person’s life.
The Daytona Beach, FL attorneys of Chanfrau & Chanfrau have helped countless people after car accidents resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. We’d now like to crunch some numbers and think about motor vehicle crashes in an average person’s life, and what these figures might mean for you.
Can the Average Number of Lifetime Collisions Be Calculated?
Yes.
It’s surprising, but there is a way to determine an average number of car accidents a person will have in their life. These crashes are not always going to result in injuries or be life-threatening, and the number can vary from driver to driver based on a number of factors, so just keep that in mind.
What the Numbers Say About Average Lifetime Car Crash
According to a 2011 articles in Forbes, the average driver files an insurance claim for an auto accident every 17.9 years. By that logic, people who start driving at the age of 16 will likely be involved in at least one car accident by the time they are age 34.
Let’s extrapolate those numbers, though. Given the average lifespan for people in this country, the average American will be in three or four car accidents in their life.
Statistics on Auto Accidents for Some Perspective
These numbers are interesting for Americans as a whole, but what does that mean for drivers in the Daytona Beach area? Let’s consider some statistics on auto accidents in Florida to provide a little perspective.
According to numbers from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 7.27 million auto accidents in the United States in 2016. This covers all kinds of collisions, from non-injury crashes to fatal accidents. According to numbers from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 401,221 total auto accidents in the state during 2018. An estimated 126,258 motto vehicle accidents have occurred in the state this year so far.
With those national and state numbers in mind, three to four accidents in a lifetime seems a reasonable estimate.
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, be sure to notify emergency responders as soon as possible. If you and your passengers are okay and you are able to, take photos and video of the crash site, exchange information with the other driver or drivers involved, and get contact information from any eye witnesses.
After attending to all pressing matters at the collision site and getting medical attention for any injuries sustained, you can reach out to your insurance company about the crash. You can also speak with attorneys about your collision to see if it’s worth pursuing a civil action against a negligent party who caused or contributed to the crash.
Contact Chanfrau & Chanfrau
To learn more about your legal options following a motor vehicle collision, be sure to contact our skilled auto accident lawyers. The team at Chanfrau & Chanfrau is here to help. You can reach our Daytona Beach attorneys by phone at (386) 258-7313.