The Las Vegas valley is home to more than two million residents, many of whom commute to work via one of the city’s three major freeways or dozens of major surface streets. Between such high amounts of traffic in our city and our reputation as some of the worst drivers in the country, it’s not unnatural to wonder just how likely you are to die in a car accident.
Odds of Dying in a Car Crash in Your Lifetime
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), an American’s lifetime odds of dying in a car crash are 1 in 107 as of 2019. These odds are calculated using data about mortality, population, and life expectancy from sources like the National Center for Health Statistics, the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
This means that, throughout your lifetime, you have about a 0.9% chance of dying in a car crash. For comparison, your lifetime chances of dying of heart disease or cancer are about 16.7% and 14.9%, respectively.
You’re also more likely to die in a slip and fall accident, by suicide, from an opioid overdose, or because of a chronic lower respiratory disease than you are to die in a car accident. Still, traffic accidents remain among the top eight most common causes of death in America.
Chances of Dying in a Car Accident in a Given Year
Of course, your chances of dying in a car crash will vary from year to year depending on many factors, including how often you drive and overall accident trends in your area. In 2019 for example, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reported that 36,096 people were killed in car crashes in the United States out of a total population of 328,240,000. This indicates that the average American had about 1 in 9,094 odds of being killed in a car crash that year—in other words, just a 0.011% chance.
On the other hand, a look at the data from just 15 years prior reveals significantly different odds. Out of a population of 292,805,000, there were 42,836 traffic fatalities in 2004. This means that the average American had a 1 in 6,835 chance of dying in an accident that year. As vehicles become safer and public awareness continues to heighten regarding issues like drunk driving and distracted driving, it is hopeful that these odds will continue to decrease over time.
Odds of Dying in a Car Crash in Southern Nevada
The probability of being killed in a traffic accident also varies from state to state and city to city. In 2019, there were 186 people killed in car accidents in Clark County out of a total population of 2,266,715. The average Clark County resident, then, had a 1 in 12,187 chance of dying in a car accident in 2019. These may seem like pretty good odds for Las Vegas, but just because you have a smaller chance of dying in a crash doesn’t mean you should gamble on never getting into a serious accident.
Fatal Accidents Account for Just 1.2% of All Injury Crashes in NV
The fact that most car accidents don’t result in wrongful death is good news—in fact, just 1.2% of Nevada injury accidents had fatalities in 2019. Unfortunately, even nonfatal accidents can wreak havoc on your life. You may suffer anything from minor cuts and bruises to catastrophic, life-changing injuries, such as burn injuries or traumatic brain injuries.
According to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), there were a total of 56,384 crashes on Nevada roads in 2019, which resulted in at least 35,176 known injuries. That’s equivalent to 93 people injured in accidents every single day for the entire year. In total, 1 in 64 Nevadans was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 2019.
What to Do If You’re Injured in a Car Accident
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident in Las Vegas or Pahrump and you suspect that your accident was the result of another person or entity’s negligence or recklessness, you could be entitled to significant financial compensation. Damages awarded to injury victims can cover medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
To find out how our experienced car accident attorneys can help you get the settlement you deserve, contact ER Injury Attorneys by calling 702-878-7878. You can also connect with one of our LiveChat representatives online now, or send us a message with your case details to be forwarded directly to our law office. Consultations are free, and we charge no fees unless we reach a verdict or settlement on your behalf.