Car Accidents Commonly Occur Close to Your Home

Author: Auger Law | November 7th, 2017

People say that home is where the heart is. Unfortunately, it is also where most vehicle collisions occur.  According to a survey conducted by Progressive Insurance, 52 percent of all traffic accidents happen within 5 miles of home or less. 77 percent of accidents occur within 15 miles or less. The study also unveiled some other interesting facts:

• You are twice as likely to be involved in an accident one mile from your home as you are 20 miles from your home.
• Just one percent of all accidents reported occurred 50 miles from home.
• The region with the highest number reported the most accidents occurring within 21 miles or more from home.
• The greatest percentage of accidents, 29 percent, occur between two and five miles from home.

Why is this? Experts agree that the reason is simple: Most people don’t leave a certain radius with regularity. Many people who commute do so within 20 miles of their home. People shop near their homes, dine out close to home and entertain themselves in venues that aren’t far away. Because most people drive near home more often than away, accidents occur at greater numbers within a certain distance from a person’s home.

The good news is that when you are armed with this information, you can prevent many accidents from occurring.

Change Your Route

One possible reason for car accidents that occur close to home is the sense of autopilot we all feel. This comes when driving to and from work or school becomes more an act of muscle memory than actual decision making. Change your route occasionally to keep yourself sharp.

Don’t Get Comfortable

We know our neighborhood’s streets well. We know the stop signs people tend to run and we know where police officers like to sit. Don’t get too comfortable around your home base. Stay aware of what is happening around your vehicle at all times.

Obey Traffic Laws

It’s easy to feel a sense of entitlement or ownership near your home. This can cause you to speed or drive in ways that you may not in other areas further from your home. Don’t be tempted to change the way you drive just because you are close to home and very familiar with the streets. Being close to home doesn’t negate your responsibility to drive safely and obey traffic laws.

Look Twice

Look around your vehicle before you back out of the driveway and always come to a full stop before entering the street. Many accidents occur because drivers will automatically pull out of their driveway without stopping or looking.  Again, don’t let your senses of autopilot and comfort get the best of you.

If you are involved in an accident, whether close to home or far away, you may have the legal right to compensation. If someone else is at fault in your accident, you may be entitled to damages for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Reach out to our team of auto accident attorneys today for the help you deserve.