When people discuss car accident statistics, they often talk about the total U.S. stats. For instance, they’ll note that between 35,000 and 40,000 people pass away annually, at least in recent years.
This is fine for getting the overall picture, but it’s not accurate to assume driving conditions and risks are the same all across the country. Things are very different in New York or California than they are in North Carolina, just as they’re also very different in South Dakota or Wyoming. So, what do the statistics from North Carolina tell us?
The 2019 stats from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Right now, some of the most recent statistics are those compiled by the IIHS for 2019. Here are a few of the key points:
- The population of North Carolina that year was 10,488,084.
- Vehicle miles traveled (in the millions) were 122,475.
- During the year, there were 1,284 crashes that resulted in at least one fatality.
- Since some accidents resulted in multiple fatalities, though, a total of 1,373 people lost their lives.
- This means that 13.1 people died for every 100,000 people in the state.
- There were 1.12 deaths for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
One important thing to note is that the stats above only refer to fatal accidents. Crashes that result in injury are more common than fatalities. So, while these stats can help you understand what conditions are like in North Carolina, there are also many people who suffered life-altering injuries and who do not appear in those statistics.
If you are injured in an accident or if you lose a loved one, you need to know what legal options you have to get the compensation you need and deserve. An attorney can help you learn more and protect your interests along the way.
