Mississippi car crashes are deadly. On average, a Mississippi driver is 4x more likely to die from a car crash than someone in Massachusets or New York. These injuries and fatalities are often preventable and have nothing to do with a vehicle’s safety rating. To better explain how you can prevent a car crash fatality, we’ve put together a few tips for getting you and your family home safe.
Buckle Up
An astounding 23% of Mississippi residents don’t wear their seatbelts while in a car. Whatever your opinion is on seatbelts, the fact is that wearing them is required. That’s because a 2017 state law requires that all passengers, front seat and back, wear seatbelts.
There’s no argument, seatbelts save lives. On average, 50% of people killed in a Mississippi car crash were not wearing a seatbelt. When you get in a crash, wearing your seatbelt dramatically reduces your risk of serious injuries and death.
Take it Slow
As we discussed previously, speeding is a leading cause of Mississippi car crashes and crash-related fatalities. The reason is simple. The faster you’re going, the more energy you need to slow down.
Remember that Force on Impact = Mass x Acceleration. If you get into a car crash at 100 MPH, your vehicle will suffer about 1.5x more damage than that same car going 70 MPH.
It’s important to go the speed limit on rural roads, especially those you’re unfamiliar with. Speed limits tend to be significantly higher in the country, compared to an average speed limit of 45 MPH in the city. That means rural roads have more opportunities for high-speed crashes, even unexpected crashes like hitting a deer.
Drive Sober
Each year in Mississippi, about 200 people are killed because of a crash involving a drunk driver. Drunk driving is a nationwide issue that is especially prevalent in rural areas. Remember, even one beer is too many to get behind the wheel.
If you’ve had any alcohol, you should not drive under any circumstances. It’s not just illegal, it could be fatal.
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries in a car accident, we can fight for you. If you’d like an experienced Starkville injury attorney from Vollor Law Firm, P.A. to evaluate your case, please send us an email or call (662) 269-6188.