Are You at Risk of a North Carolina Car Accident?

Most drivers know that there are steps they can take to help reduce their risk of being killed in a car accident. There are many safe driving behaviors, such as driving within the speed limit, never drinking and driving, and putting your cell phone away, which can help. But, despite those efforts, there are many factors that are beyond our control that increases our risk of being in a crash statistic.

Risk Factors

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), if you are a male, you stand a higher risk of being killed in a crash than if you are female. Males who are between the ages of 20 to 24 years of age or over 85 are the ones who are most at risk.

If you live in one of the top eight states in the country, you are more at risk. These states are South Carolina, Massachusetts, Ohio, Nebraska, Georgia, Maryland, and Maine. And one more: North Carolina. Yes, residents of North Carolina are more at risk of being killed in a crash than residents in 42 other states.

Another factor that puts people at a higher risk is if they live in rural areas and drive a pickup truck. According to national statistics, drivers of pickup trucks have a higher rate of being killed in a crash than other vehicles. That risk is compounded if the driver lives in a rural town.

The time of day you drive can also sharply increase your risk, especially if you are driving between the hours of 3 to 9 p.m. This is when the most fatal accidents happen. And if you drive in the following days, you are also increasing that risk: July 1, July 4, August 2, October 11, and November 1.

Drivers who don’t wear seatbelts also put themselves at a higher risk of being killed in a crash. Surveys show that almost 90 percent of drivers were their seatbelts all the time. Imagine how much the number of fatalities would skyrocket if they didn’t since statistics also reveal that at least half of all car crash fatalities were not wearing their seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The same type of statistics applies to motorcyclists and helmets. Wearing a helmet reduces a motorcyclist’s chance of sustaining a head injury in a crash by 50 percent.

Call Our Carolinas Personal Injury Law Firm

If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver, contact the dedicated North Carolina car accident attorneys at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp for help in preparing and presenting your case for compensation. Our firm has a solid track record of obtaining financial compensation for our clients for medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, permanent disability, scarring, disfigurement, and more. Our experienced attorneys will help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation possible given the facts and circumstances of your case

It is critical to remember that North Carolina has placed a statute of limitation on how long victims have to file a claim for damages against those responsible for their injuries, so do not delay. Failure to file before that legal deadline could mean you lose any chance of ever filing your claim or getting justice against the person responsible for you or your loved one’s injuries.

 

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