Odds of dying in a car accident

California motorists may be relieved to know that their state is not among the top 10 states when motor vehicle fatality rates are measured. However, California is also not among the 10 states in which it is least likely to perish in this manner. A recent study explored statistics for such fatalities on a national level, comparing them to other manners of death. The positive view for those concerned about incidents related to motor vehicles is that traffic deaths are on the decline.

Traffic fatalities have declined by more than 30 percent over the past three years, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In fact, the decline has been continual since the mid-1980s. Improved vehicle design and safety engineering is credited with much of the improvement. In 2013, approximately 11 of every 100,000 deaths resulted from auto accidents, according to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This equates to approximately one of every 77 deaths. In comparison, one of every four deaths in that year resulted from heart disease, while one of every 20 deaths resulted from accidents in general.

Although tracking such statistics can be helpful for those endeavoring to bring the numbers of deadly accidents down, the probability is high that involvement in a serious or even deadly accident will create serious stresses for those involved. An individual who has been injured in a motor vehicle accident could lose time at work while recovering. In some cases, the results can permanently impact a victim's quality of life.

Pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses could warrant seeking compensation beyond what is provided through insurance coverage where the accident was caused by the negligence of another driver. In such an event, a personal injury attorney could assist in preparing and filing a lawsuit seeking damages from the at-fault motorist.