Have you ever wondered what your chances of dying in a car crash are? It varies from year to year. The lifetime odds of dying in a car crash are lower than dying of heart disease or an accidental opioid overdose. But car fatal accidents do happen every day in Kentucky— even to safe drivers.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says there were 780 fatal car accidents in Kentucky in 2020. That’s more than two car accident fatalities every day of the year. The NHTSA reported 806 fatal car accidents in KY in a recent year.
The untimely, preventable death of a loved one can cause both lasting grief and financial hardship. If another driver’s recklessness caused your loved one’s death, your family members may be able to hold the at-fault driver accountable. You shouldn’t have to bear unexpected medical debt or funeral expenses due to someone else’s negligence. You deserve compassion and a clear explanation of your legal rights.
The Kentucky wrongful death lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can help you understand the steps available to seek compensation for the financial harm you have suffered. If you are dealing with the death of a loved one in a car accident, please accept our sympathies and contact us for a free consultation about your legal options.
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Overall Odds of Dying In a Car Crash
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), you have less than a 1% chance of dying in a motor vehicle accident during your lifetime.
The NSC puts motor vehicle accidents at No. 9 on a list of “Lifetime odds of death for selected causes, United States, 2021.” You are more likely to die of heart disease (No. 1 at 1 in 6 odds), accidental opioid overdose (1 in 58), or guns (1 in 89) than in a car crash.
Further down the list, the odds of dying in a pedestrian incident are 1 in 485. The odds of being killed by a motorcyclist are 1 in 747, and by a bicyclist are 1 in 3,546. That indicates that in crashes involving a car or truck vs. a pedestrian, motorcycle, or bicycle, it’s usually the four-wheel vehicle driver who survives.
Main Causes of Car Accident Deaths
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which enforces motor vehicle safety standards, says that in 2020, the number of fatal crashes in the U.S. increased by 6.8% over 2019. Passenger car occupant fatalities increased by 9%.
In nearly half of fatal crashes involving passenger vehicles, the drivers were engaged in at least one of the following risky behaviors:
- Speeding (fatalities up 17%). According to NHTSA data, 11,258 people died in speeding-related crashes in 2020, and speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all fatal crashes. Speeding and drinking is the deadliest combination, the NHTSA says. Of the drivers involved in fatal crashes, 37% were speeding and had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
- Alcohol impairment (fatalities up 14%). In a 2022 report, NHTSA says that 56% of seriously or fatally injured road users tested positive for alcohol or for some type of drug known to have potentially impairing effects. The presence of cannabinoids (25%) and alcohol (23%) were most prevalent, followed by stimulants (11%) and opioids (9%).
- Not wearing a seat belt (fatalities up 14%). In an Occupant Protection Traffic Safety report released, NHTSA says 50% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes in 2021 were not wearing seat belts. A higher percentage of pickup truck occupants — 60% of pickup truck drivers and 64% of pickup truck passengers killed in crashes — were not wearing seat belts.
The NHTSA recently released an Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2021. Among the findings are the following:
- There were 42,939 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roadways in This is the largest number of fatalities in fifteen years. It also represents a 10% increase from 39,007 fatalities in the previous year.
- From 2020 to 2021, speeding-related fatalities increased by 7.9%, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities increased by 14%, and seat belt non-use fatalities increased by 8.1%.
- Nearly a quarter of Kentucky’s 806 traffic accident fatalities in a recent year involved alcohol-impaired driving.
- There were 143 speeding-related fatalities in Kentucky in 2021, 18% of the state’s 806 motor vehicle fatalities for the year.
What Vehicles Are Involved in Most Car Accidents?
NHTSA says that newer cars on the road today are safer than ever before. Advanced technologies such as electronic stability control systems, blind spot detection, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning save lives.
Improved occupant protection, such as seat belts and airbags, and improved structural designs helped raise the annual number of lives saved in car crashes from 115 in 1960 to 27,621 in 2012, NHTSA says. Cumulatively, these improved safety technologies saved over 600,000 lives between 1960 and 2012.
Researchers at TitleMax, a loan company, looked at NHTSA accident data from 2016-20 to determine which vehicle makes and models were involved in the most fatal accidents in the United States. Their top 10 are:
- Chevrolet Silverado: 8,777 accidents
- Ford F-150: 7,502 accidents
- Honda Accord: 5,368 accidents
- Toyota Camry: 5,023 accidents
- Dodge Ram: 4,666 accidents
- Honda Civic: 4,648 accidents
- Nissan Altima: 3,746 accidents
- Toyota Corolla: 3,641 accidents
- GMC Sierra: 3,567 accidents
- Ford Explorer: 3,139 accidents
The Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks are the top two best-selling passenger vehicles in America. In Kentucky, the Silverado was the vehicle involved in the highest number of fatal crashes, according to the research. But fatal crashes can occur in any type of vehicle.
Meet With a Kentucky Fatal Car Accident Attorney Today
While you and your family members may be good drivers who follow traffic laws, not all other drivers are as cautious and law-abiding as you. If you’ve lost a loved one because of another motorist’s negligent or reckless driving in Kentucky, let us help you demand the compensation needed to move forward with your life.
Contact us at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to set up your free consultation. Find out how Kentucky Courage can help you get through this.
