Man driving car

What Are the Odds of Dying in a Car Accident?

Many people have anxiety when driving or riding as a passenger in a car. They might be surprised to learn how low their odds are of getting killed in a crash. They are much more likely to die of other causes rather than a collision.

If you got hurt or a loved one died because of a motor vehicle accident, a South Carolina personal injury attorney can help you go after the compensation you deserve from the party whose negligence caused the collision. Let’s take a look at the odds of dying in a car accident. 

Statistics for Fatal Car Crashes

The National Safety Council reports that the lifetime odds of dying from a motor vehicle crash are one in 101. In comparison, the lifetime odds of death for a pedestrian incident are one in 541, and for a motorcyclist, the odds are one in 799. Bicyclists have odds of one in 3,396. 

When you compare the deaths odds for motor vehicle crashes to the statistics for pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists, it might look as if it is safer to be a walker, motorcyclist, or bicyclist in a collision in a person driving or riding in a car, but that would be an incorrect conclusion. The odds are lower for those three groups because there are far fewer pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists than people riding around in cars and trucks. 

Comparative Lifetime Odds of Death from Various Other Causes

Before you swear off ever leaving your house again in an attempt to avoid dying in a car accident, it might allay your concerns to know the lifetime odds of death for some other causes. For example, the lifetime odds of death, based on 2020 numbers in the United States, are:

  • 1 in 6 from heart disease
  • 1 in 7 from any type of cancer
  • 1 in 12 from COVID-19
  • 1 in 21 from accidents and other incidents that were preventable
  • 1 in 28 from lung disease and other chronic diseases of the lower respiratory tract
  • 1 in 67 from an opioid overdose, including prescription opioid painkillers, heroin, and other forms of opioids
  • 1 in 93 from suicide

Seeing these lifetime odds of death can put help to put the likelihood of death from a motor vehicle collision into perspective.

Recoverable Damages After a Car Accident

So, what are your options for getting compensation for your losses after a motor vehicle crash?

Personal Injury

You could seek money damages from the at-fault driver for your economic losses, like medical bills, lost wages, and decreased earning capacity. Also, the party who caused the accident could be liable to pay compensation to you for other losses, like pain and suffering and loss of function. 

Wrongful Death

If your close relative did not survive their injuries from a car crash, you might be able to pursue a wrongful death claim against the party whose carelessness caused the collision. South Carolina law allows the legal beneficiaries to recover compensation for the loss of the deceased person’s income that helped to support the family, loss of services performed for the benefit of the household, loss of companionship and guidance, and other losses.

Also, the estate of the decedent could recover the final medical expenses, as well as funeral and burial costs. 

A South Carolina personal injury attorney could help you hold the careless party accountable in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Get in touch with our office today for legal help.