Most individuals get in their cars and drive away every day of the year without dread of being involved in a car accident, but they may be terrified of something else that is far less likely to occur. Take a look at some of the most frequent American worries and how unlikely they are to materialize in comparison to an automobile accident. If you have been in an accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a consultation.
Understanding the number of traffic fatalities
First, let’s talk about how common fatal car accidents are. More than 35,000 people are killed in automobile accidents each year. Some may argue that with a population of hundreds of millions, this is a small number of individuals, but consider the statistics on other ways to die.
Compare the number of people killed in traffic accidents to the number of people killed in terrorist attacks
When terrorists attacked the Twin Towers in 2001, this country experienced a tragic loss. Despite the fact that changes have been made to keep our environment safe, many individuals remain concerned about terrorist strikes. While this is natural, it is also crucial to recall that 80 Americans were killed in terrorist acts between 2004 and 2013.
This number is 80 individuals higher than it should have been, but it’s crucial to remember that anyone in the United States is at a higher risk of car accident death than death by terrorist.
Shark attacks
Every year or two, the American public seems to become more aware of shark attacks. They have the sense that shark attacks occur on a daily basis all around the world. The truth is that the most dangerous year for shark attacks in North America was 2010, when there were just 79 attacks across the continent.
The top ten American fears
The top 10 phobias of Americans were identified in a poll issued by Chapman University in 2016. Corruption among public officials was ranked first, with terrorist attacks coming in second. Despite the fact that there have been over 400,000 vehicle-related deaths since September 11, 2001, auto accidents were not on the list.
Why aren’t Americans more concerned about fatal car accidents?
Why aren’t people more concerned about vehicle accidents if they are so much more deadly? Fear is a primal motivator, according to the answer. It’s not so much about actual risk as it is about perceived peril. Terrorism is so frightening to people because it is so uncommon. Auto deaths are common enough that they do not shock people as much as human deaths do, and thus do not elicit the same level of anxiety.
For a free legal consultation, call The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you or a loved one has been gravely injured in a car accident.