Car Accident Statistics St. Louis

If you are familiar with driving a car in or around St. Louis, Missouri, it may not come as a surprise to you that Missouri is ranked as one of the worst states in the country in terms of deadly car accidents. It may also not surprise you to learn that St. Louis was found to be the third-worst city in the country for the risk of car accidents, only behind Detroit and Albuquerque. This is the result of a variety of factors, including road designs that lead to confusion in traffic at high speeds, as well as the typical and unfortunate national trends of drunk or distracted driving, and more. It is important to stay vigilant and attentive as you are driving on Missouri roads, as with any road, in order to give yourself the best chances of staying safe while traveling.

If you have been involved in an accident that someone else caused in St. Louis, contact the team at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC as soon as possible in order to learn about how we can help you get the compensation that you rightfully deserve. When someone else is responsible for the accident you were in, then they are equally responsible for any injuries and financial damages that you incur. Typically, you will initiate this process by filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance company, but it is very important that you recognize the need for additional legal help through this process. 

Read more below to get a general idea about some car accident statistics and facts in St. Louis, and contact us now for a free consultation about the specifics of your case. 

Some Recent Facts and Figures about Car Accidents in St. Louis

According to the financial outlet WalletHub, St. Lous is the 56th worst city to drive in, but not simply in terms of the likelihood that you will be in an accident. The outlet took into account a wide range of factors that go beyond simple car accidents, including things like the cost of ownership and maintenance for a vehicle (30/100), traffic and infrastructure (66/100), and overall safety (98/100). 

In terms of serious car accidents only, St. Louis had a total of 57 car accident-related fatalities in 2017, accounting for 6.15% of the 927 fatalities in car accidents across the entire state in that year. In addition, there were a total of 284 serious injuries from car accidents in St. Louis in 2017, which accounted for 5.84% of the 4,860 serious injuries reported in the state. To put this into context, St. Louis accounts for roughly 4% of the state’s overall population.

Ways To Stay Safe While Driving in St. Louis

Nobody plans to be involved in an accident, and even the safest of all drivers can be involved in a serious and even fatal crash that they had no fault in whatsoever. Regardless, there are steps that a driver can take in order to ensure that they take all appropriate precautions while traveling.

Obey Speed Limits

Speed limits are posted in order to keep all drivers on the road moving at a similar speed in order to decrease the hazards associated with high-speed driving. These speed limits account for things like the size of the road, curves and obstacles a driver may encounter, and more. Obeying the posted speed limit is one of the most fundamental safety measures that someone can take on the road. 

Avoid Distractions

Distracted driving was responsible for a total of 37,461 deaths on American roads in 2016, with no small percent of these numbers attributed to improper smartphone usage like texting, emailing, or using apps while driving. Using hands-free devices only, and avoiding screens and other distractions while driving is one very important way that you can increase safety on the roads for both yourself and those around you.

Remember Your Blind Spots

All vehicles have blind spots, although some can be larger than others. Regardless, it is important that you know and understands the blind spots on your own vehicle so that you can be certain to check for any possible obscured vehicle before making a lane shift. This is especially important in the warmer months when motorcycles are on the roads, which are easy to lose in a blind spot.