Just how often do car accidents happen? What are the usual causes? Are the consequences usually severe? And how much does the average crash cost? All of these questions and their answers are pertinent to fully understanding traffic collisions and preventing them in the future. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KSDOT) has recently released a 2014 quick fact data sheet to shed some light on these pressing concerns.
According to their statistics, 59,533 traffic accidents in Kansas in 2014 and 134,255 people affected by them. 385 fatalities were reported, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, and a total of 17,925 people non-fatally injured; this means that 2% of people hurt in traffic accidents ultimately lost their lives because of them. Additionally, 76% of people fatally injured in collision were inside some sort of vehicle, whether it was a sedan, truck, SUV, van, and so forth.
The KSDOT was also able to compile information regarding weather and road conditions. It determined that about 63% of all traffic accidents occurred during the day and 85% were in good, clear weather conditions. This information makes sense when compared to the fact that at least 16% – the number may be higher according to other organizations – of car accidents are caused by driver distraction alone. When considering all forms of traffic accidents, one death occurred in Kansas every 22 hours and 45 minutes.
How Much Does the Average Accident Cost?
Many organizations, such as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), collect information regarding how often car accidents occur and what causes them. But the KSDOT is one of the few that also compiles and compared information regarding the cost of the typical traffic accident. According to their data, 20,280 accidents caused by driver errors accrued $1.186 billion in damages; this amounts to $58,520 per collision. While this number is already staggering, it is clear that drinking and driving is more likely to cause a devastating collision; out of 1,274 alcohol-related collisions, a total damage cost of $366.5 million was accrued, or $285,460 per collision. Similarly high cost-per-crash numbers were found when reviewing motorcycle accidents and those involving pedestrians.
All in all, the information shows that there really is no such thing as a minor traffic accident. After a crash, victims can be faced with thousands upon thousands of dollars of costs, most of which can be medical bills. If you have found yourself in such a situation, call (316) 688-1166 to connect with our Wichita personal injury attorneys from Hutton & Hutton Law Firm, LLC. We can put our decades of combined legal and trial experience to work for you.