Car accidents are common, but did you know that they’re actually a top cause of death in multiple categories? Even when breaking accidents down into different types — pedestrian accidents and two-car accidents, for instance — they stay near the top of the list.
For example, one study listed car accidents as the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. It found that the odds of being killed in an accident were one in 272.
However, that didn’t even count motorcycle accidents, which came in at No. 12 all on their own. The odds of dying on a motorcycle were one in every 802.
Pedestrian accidents were even higher, coming in at No. 11. The odds of being struck and killed while walking or jogging were one in every 623.
So, what happens when you combine all accidents involving vehicles on land, leaving out just boats and airplanes? Those accidents ranked out at No. 4 overall in the study. The odds of being killed in a vehicle accident of any kind are one in 85.
The only three things the study found took more lives were strokes, cancer and heart disease.
Every time you get in the car to make a run to the store or head over to a friend’s house, you likely don’t think about the risks, but the reality is that you are putting your life on the line each time you drive.
If a loved one is involved in an accident of any kind that is caused by someone else’s negligence, and if he or she passes away or suffers catastrophic injuries, be sure you know what legal options you have at your disposal.
Source: Med Help, “The 25 Most Common Causes of Death,” Chris Jagger, accessed Sep. 19, 2017
