You use your car every day, from running errands to dropping off your children at school and sports to taking family vacations.
You probably do not give much thought to the chance that you or a loved one could be seriously hurt or even killed in a car crash. Yet these terrible events do happen — according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 31,700 people are estimated to have died in traffic collisions in 2022 alone.
These statistics do not tell the whole story of your individual risk, though. There are a number of factors that play a role in increasing or decreasing the chance that you or a loved one will be killed in a crash.
Overall Risk of a Car Accident in Illinois
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, in 2020, there were a total of 246,752 motor vehicle wrecks that occurred throughout the state. This means that on any given day, about 676 accidents happen across Illinois’ roadways.
When you consider that there are more than 8.5 million licensed drivers in Illinois, the odds of you being involved in a crash on any given day are relatively low.
The Illinois Department of Transportation goes further with its statistics, though. Of all the crashes that occur, only about one out of every five involves an injury to one or more people. Fewer than one out of every 100 crashes involves a fatality.
These statistics mean that of the more than 246,752 accidents that happen each year, fewer than 2,000 every year result in a fatality.
Your Individual Risk Summarized
These numbers taken together might alleviate fears you have about the danger of traveling on the roads in Illinois. The chance that you will be involved in a car crash on any given day is relatively small, and the chance that you will be hurt or killed is even smaller. Fewer than 0.01 percent of Illinois licensed drivers are killed each year in traffic wrecks.
Minimizing Your Risk of a Car Accident
You can engage in certain behaviors and actions to further reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident. Obviously, if you are not involved in an accident at all, then there is no chance you can be killed in one.
Several tips for avoiding a motor vehicle crash in the first place include:
- Drive defensively and do not challenge aggressive drivers
- Obey the speed limit and other traffic laws
- Do not drive while you are impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Do not drive if you are feeling sleepy or having trouble staying awake
- Put down your cell phone and put away other distractions
Driving at night or in inclement weather can raise the risk of a car accident. Therefore, avoid driving during times when your visibility is poor or when the roads make it difficult to control your vehicle. You should also keep your car and its various parts, such as windshield wipers and brakes, in good repair.
Stay Safe and Drive Confidently
No one wants to be involved in any sort of traffic accident, but these events do happen. Luckily, your chance of being involved in a crash in Illinois is statistically low, and your odds of being hurt or killed in an accident are even lower. Moreover, you can further protect yourself from a car accident by engaging in simple, safe driving practices.
Contact the Naperville Car Accident Law Firm Of the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid for Help Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, please call the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid for a free case evaluation with a car accident lawyer or contact us online.