Worldwide, the most common cause of unintentional death is a motor vehicle crash. Is there a way to improve your changes of surviving a head-on collision?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2012, there were 5,419,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes that killed 33,561 people. Fatalities rose 3.3 percent from 32,479 in 2011. The NHTSA further estimates that 10 million or more crashes go unreported each year. Figures in the Traffic Collision Facts Report by the Kentucky State Police show that there were 229,549 vehicles involved in collisions in our state during 2011 (the most recent year for which data is available) and 1,085 were involved in fatal collisions.
Some Things You Can Change, Others…
Many of these collisions were head-on. How can you increase your chances of surviving a head-on crash? Well, according to a recent Indiana University study based on NHTSA data, it helps if you are young, male, and driving a big vehicle. The study examined numerous risk factors and found that the driver’s chance of survival was increased by driving a vehicle with a higher mass, driving a newer vehicle, being younger, being a male, using a seatbelt and having the airbag deploy in the crash.Who is Most At-Risk?
The study noted that there were more young people between the ages of 15 and 24 involved in head-on collisions than any other age group (21 percent), while their rate of death was the lowest among all age groups (39 percent). The study further discovered that women were more likely to die in head-on collisions than men, but did not ascertain why. Vehicle inequity was also examined, including factors such as weight, height and rigidity.The study concluded that with other variables being equal, drivers of cars were 17 times more likely to die in a head-on accident compared to the driver of a light truck and 9 times more likely than the driver of an SUV.
If you have suffered an injury due to a head-on wreck or you have any questions about this topic, you can find out more by discussing it with one of the attorneys at the Pikeville, KY-based Johnson Law Firm. We are ready to provide you with a free and confidential initial consultation. Contact us by calling toll-free at 606-437-4488 or through our online form.
Attorney Billy Johnson
William “Billy” Johnson grew up in the Dorton area of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on decided to stay in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Like many others in Eastern Kentucky, Billy’s dad worked as a coal miner, a hard job but one that taught his son how to meet challenges head on and persevere. Attorney Billy Johnson has years of experience helping injured clients with claims such as car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, wrongful deaths, work injuries, and more. [ Attorney Bio ]
