You may have heard that most car accidents happen close to home. For instance, people will say that accidents generally occur within five miles of your house. This can lead some to believe that it’s most dangerous to drive on roads that you’re familiar with.
While there is something to be said for familiarity making people complacent and less careful, that’s not the main reason for this trend. The real reason that most accidents happen close to home is just statistical probability. You spend more time on those roads so, if you are involved in an accident, odds are that it will happen there.
An example: Your daily commute
For instance, say that you live 7.5 miles from work. Every day, you drive for 15 total miles during your commute. While you technically are driving farther than five miles from home, a total of 10 of your miles are within that range. This means that, even with a longer commute, you’re still spending two-thirds of your time within five miles of the house.
In the same way, you can imagine how the odds look for someone who works from home or who works within five miles of the house. They may almost never leave that zone, meaning all accidents — if they happen — are close to the house. Add in familiarity and complacency, and it’s a recipe for high risk.
Have you been injured in an accident?
Even your daily commute or a trip to the store can put you at serious risk. If you get hit by another driver and end up in the hospital, you need to know how to seek compensation for your medical bills, wages you lose out on, pain and suffering, and many other costs.