People often feel frustrated when they get in a car accident because they were almost home. If they could have just made it for another few minutes or another few miles, they think, they would have avoided the crash entirely.
Statistics show that this phenomenon is very real. For instance, one study noted that 77% of motor vehicle crashes happen within 10 miles of the person’s home. The vast majority of accidents take place in this familiar setting. But why is this?
Driving location and risk exposure
The biggest reason is likely just exposure to risk. People spend most of their time driving close to home, so this is just where they face the risk of being involved in a car accident. Someone who works within 10 miles of their house may almost never leave that radius during their daily commute. Any accident that they get involved in, save for the rare occasions when they’re taking a longer trip, will be within 10 miles of their house.
Boredom and complacency
In some cases, there can be issues where drivers feel bored on familiar roads that they drive daily, or they grow complacent and assume that they won’t get involved in an accident. They’re just so used to driving in this area that they stop focusing on safety. It may be easier for them to get distracted or their mind may start wandering while they’re in traffic.
Seeking compensation
Have you been injured in a car accident that someone else caused? It may have happened close to your home, and you may have serious injuries. If so, you need to know how to seek financial compensation from the driver who caused the crash.
