People are often hesitant to do things that they perceive to be dangerous. Someone may turn down the opportunity to climb a mountain because they’re worried about falling or being struck by an avalanche. They may avoid surfing or swimming in the ocean because they are worried about undercurrents or shark attacks.
It’s not that these fears aren’t valid. It’s just that these risks aren’t very common in people’s lives. And, while people may avoid these activities that they perceive to be dangerous, they’re doing something far more hazardous every single day: Driving their car.
What the statistics tell us
Most people don’t worry at all when they drive to the store or commute to work, but they may simply have not looked at the statistics. For example, roughly 35,000 Americans pass away in car accidents every single year – in 2022, reports show that it was over 42,000. For those between 1 and 34 years old, driving accidents are the leading cause of death.
One reason that people don’t think about these dangers in the same way is just that accidents are fairly spread out. It’s not one major event taking hundreds or thousands of lives. Many accidents just involve one or two fatalities, but these add up over time in a country with a population of over 300 million people.
Another reason that people overlook this risk is that they tend to think accidents happen to other people. They grow complacent. They have spent years driving without a serious crash. But it only takes a split second for that to change.
Have you lost a loved one?
If you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, or if you have suffered serious injuries, then you may be able to seek financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs and much more.