There are roughly 12 motor vehicle accidents every minute in the United States. Over the course of your lifetime, according to the latest statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, you can expect to be involved in about four car accidents. However, those numbers may be highly inaccurate, as insurance industry experts estimate that nearly 10 million accidents go unreported. Even with these skewed numbers, car accidents are the leading cause of death for Colorado residents. Colorado drivers are taking proactive steps to help ensure we are all safe on the road, but there are still many places where we can do better.
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In 2018, there were nearly 122,000 car accidents in the state of Colorado resulting in over 27,000 injuries. 53% of those involved were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident, which greatly contributed to these numbers. Another big factor leading to all those injuries and 632 deaths was alcohol impairment. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), alcohol impairment is present in over 30% of collisions, and almost 60 people are arrested for drunk driving every day. Another 15,000 accidents, possibly more, CDOT says, are caused by distracted driving.
The Look Twice, Save a Life program is helping to reduce motorcycle accidents, but there were still over 100 motorcycle deaths in Colorado in 2018. Many of these tragic deaths could have been prevented, and not just by the drivers of four wheeled vehicles. CDOT reports that 70% of slain motorcycle drivers were not wearing a helmet. Most riders also did not have any other appropriate riding safety gear, like gloves, boots, or reinforced clothing. Always be sure to look twice for motorcycles, and if you are going out riding, do your part to be safe and always wear your riding gear.
Car accidents are so anxiety inducing because they can happen at any time. In fact, 70% of accidents occur in the daylight, which tends to be opposite of what many people think. There are certain times it seems though, in Colorado, that your chances of being involved in an accident are much higher. CDOT has found 59% of accidents happened when sleet, snow, or hail was present. None of which are unusual to see in Colorado. What is slightly surprising to some is that most accidents in Colorado happen during the month of August. Seems strange unless you are familiar with the climate here. August in Colorado can be quite tumultuous with occasional, sudden weather snaps. If you find yourself needing help navigating your accident, Heuser & Heuser, L.L.P. will be your compassionate ally in helping you get your life back on track. Give us a call at (719) 520-9909 to schedule your free consultation with us today.
