Most people get in their cars every day of the year and drive away, without present fear of being involved in a car accident, yet they might be afraid of something else that is much less likely to happen. Take a look at some of the most common fears Americans report and how much less likely they are to occur than a car accident.
Understanding How Many Traffic Fatalities There Are
First of all, let us discuss just how common a fatal car accident is. Each year, more than 35,000 people are killed in traffic accidents. Some people consider that with a population of hundreds of millions this is not very many people, but let us compare it to statistics of other ways to die.
Compare Traffic Deaths to Deaths Due to Terrorist Attacks
This country suffered a devastating loss when terrorists attacked the Twin Towers in 2001. Changes were made to keep our nature secure, yet many people are still worried about terrorist attacks. While this is understandable, it is also important to remember that between 2004 and 2013, the number of Americans killed in terrorist attacks was 80.
This number is 80 people more than it should have been, but it is important to keep in perspective the relative danger to any person in the United States.
Compare Traffic Deaths to Shark Attacks
Every year or two, it seems that the American public becomes very aware of shark attacks. They get the impression that there are shark attacks happening all over the world every day. The truth is that the most dangerous year for North American shark attacks was 2010 and then there were only 79 attacks throughout all of North America.
The Top Fears of Americans
A survey published by Chapman University in 2016 listed the top ten fears of Americans. The number one spot was corruption of public officials and the second biggest fear was terrorist attacks. Auto accidents were not on the list at all, yet there have been more than 400,000 vehicle-related deaths since September 11, 2001.
Why Aren’t Americans More Worried About Car Accident Fatalities?
If car accidents are so much more deadly, then why don’t people worry more about them? The answer is that fear is a primal motivator. It is not necessarily about actual danger but about the perceived danger. Terrorism is so scary to people in fact because it is so rare that it is shocking. Auto deaths are common enough that they do not shock people in the same way and are therefore not associated with the same amount of fear.
If you have been involved in an accident in which you or a loved one was seriously injured, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
