When you compare car accident fatalities in the United States to the rest of the world, it’s clear very quickly that the U.S. has a serious problem on the roads. People die at a far greater rate than they do in similar countries.
In one report, the fatality rate in the U.S. came in at 12.4 deaths for every 100,000 people in the country. That’s around 50% more than what you find in places like Japan, Australia, Canada and Western Europe.
There are higher fatality rates that you can find, but they tend to be in the developing world. They’re often in countries that do not have as much economic and political stability and that may not have as many traffic safety systems in place.
Why is this U.S. rate so high? One reason is that the United States, for all of its traffic laws, isn’t as strict as other countries. For instance, back-seat passengers do not always have to wear a seat belt. In Canada, they do. The drunk driving laws in the U.S. are not as strict as the ones that you find in much of Europe.
The sheer number of driving Americans is also far higher than in other countries. In Europe, the countries are vastly smaller, and public transportation is more popular. In America, the country is huge, and most people tend to prefer cars over public transit, so Americans just face more risk with more time on the road.
Have you lost a loved one in a car accident or suffered serious injuries? It’s too common, and you need to know what legal options you have.
