An auto accident is a risk any time you get behind the wheel, but knowing the real numbers behind the risk can help you understand why it’s important to drive carefully and avoid distractions on the road.
Auto Accidents by the Numbers
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 29,989 fatal motor vehicle crashes throughout the United States in 2014, resulting in a total of 32,675 deaths.
How Florida Stacks Up
The state of Florida accounted for more than 2,330 of these fatal crashes and roughly 2,490 of the deaths.
- Out of the 2,400+ deaths recorded, more than 790 of the victims were car occupants.
- Additional statistics show that over 420 of the victims were either SUV, pickup truck, or large truck occupants, almost 450 of them were motorcyclists, over 130 of them were bicyclists, and almost 600 of them were pedestrians.
- The Florida population was roughly 19,893,297 at that time, which translates to 12.5 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.24 deaths for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
- It was also reported that over 55 percent of the deaths involved single-vehicles and 45 percent involved multiple-vehicles.
- More than 900 of the Florida drivers killed were reported to have had BACs of 0.08 or higher, over 500 of the fatally injured occupants were not wearing seat belts, and only 53 percent of the 1,206 total victims were restrained.
Florida Traffic Death Reports stated that in 2010, the state of Florida had a 12.98 fatality rate per 100,000 people. Other Florida auto collision stats include:
- Total fatal car crashes: 2,262
- Total traffic deaths: 2,445
- Drunk driving deaths: 660
- Total pedestrians killed: 487
- Drivers killed: 1,028
- Passengers killed: 423
- Motorcyclists killed: 396
- Pedestrians killed: 487
- Large trucks involved: 27
- buses involved: 8
- Motorcycles involved: 396
- Drunk driving deaths: 660
- Traffic deaths from DUI: 27 percent
Also Read: Risk Maps May Help Reduce Florida Auto Accidents and Traffic Deaths
What about Florida Bicycle Accidents?
Unfortunately, bicyclists in Florida have a high risk of being involved in a serious traffic crash. According to a 2015 report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Florida has the highest rate of bicycling deaths of any state in the nation and more than double the national average.
The CDC also reports that most states have made progress in reducing fatal bicycle accidents, with the number of deaths per 100,000 people declining over 40 percent between 2008 and 2013. However, Florida has only reduced fatal bicycle accidents by less than 10 percent over the last three decades.
Also Read: What You Need to Know about Bicycle Accidents in Florida
Speak With a West Palm Beach Accident Lawyer Now
Thousands of individuals are injured or killed each year due to car and bicycle accidents throughout the state of Florida. If you or someone you know was involved in a Florida motor vehicle accident or bicycle accident, call a Fetterman & Associates will handle everything for you, and get you the results you deserve.