Car accidents are common on New Jersey roads, and nearly everyone has either been in a car accident or knows someone who has. While most New Jersey drivers can name many ways to avoid a crash, some facts about car accidents surprise even the most veteran drivers.
Here are some facts about car crashes you may not know, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
When you talk on a cell phone while driving, your chances of being involved in a crash increase by 400 percent.
Most car accidents occur within two miles of a driver’s house, making “I’m just running up to the store!” a very poor reason not to wear a seatbelt.
Drivers ages 16 to 20 have the highest risk of a fatal car accident, making car crashes one of the leading causes of death in this age group.
Saturdays are the most common day of the week for fatal car accidents, with 19 percent of all crashes happening on this day. That’s nearly 1 in 5, instead of 1 in 7.
The deadliest time to be on the road is between midnight and 3 a.m.
On average, a person somewhere in the United States is injured in a car accident every fourteen seconds. While you were reading this fact, someone in the U.S. was likely injured in a crash.
Even though it has a relatively small population, Montana has the highest fatality rate in motor vehicle accidents.
Alcohol is a factor in nearly 40 percent of fatal car accidents.
Upon impact, it takes an airbag about 40 milliseconds to inflate fully. That’s about as long as you see any one frame while watching an animated movie.
Depositions are taken in personal injury cases by a court reporting agency.
