Auto Accidents: What are Your Chances?

Auto Accident Statistics

Driving your car or truck around town, to work, on errands, on weekend or long-term getaways is taken for granted by almost everyone. Yet the moment you sit down in your vehicle and head onto the nearest street, you are at risk for a car accident which could result in serious injuries or even death. No one wants to think of themselves as a statistic, yet when it comes to auto accidents, many of us become one. Defensive driving is the answer to staying out of the statistic pool but, even with alert and vigilant driving habits, you can't control the other drivers on the road who may be tired, distracted, drunk, on prescription or over-the-counter drugs which make them drowsy or otherwise impaired, or for those who are just plain inattentive or careless.

So what are your chances when you start your engine and take off? According to the National Safety Council, every year more than 12 million motor vehicle accidents take place in this country. Many of these are minor fender-benders. Over five million of them are nonfatal collisions of which two million result in disabling injuries. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) estimates that the average driver may have a near-accident once or twice a month and all of us will be in a collision of some sort on an average of every six years.

Missouri Auto Accidents and Consequences

Per the latest USDOT findings, Missouri is the 17^th leading state out of 50 in the number of licensed drivers, totaling 3,965,610. This is much less than states like California, Texas, and Florida which have four times or more drivers. As a driver in the greater Kansas City area, however, you are in the most populous part of the state, sharing the streets and highways with more drivers than anywhere else in Missouri. Therefore, your chances for being involved in an auto accident are much higher than those living in other parts of the state.

As everyone knows, being involved in an auto accident can be a life-threatening experience. If it does happen to you and you unfortunately find yourself included in the statistics, you should consult with an experienced Kansas City personal injury attorney at Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott. Attorney Matthew Meyerkord has been effectively helping clients involved in all kinds of personal injury cases for years and provides aggressive legal representation to help you recover the damages to which you may be entitled. With his firm, you will never be just another statistic but a valued client who deserves comprehensive legal help and support at a time when you need it the most.