Most people already know that vehicle crashes make up an alarming number of fatal incidents around the U.S.- safety advocates, legislators, and vehicle manufacturers have approached the issue from many different directions in an effort to curb the loss of life and high damage expenses associated with fatal wrecks. The number of fatal vehicle crashes, however, is not just a problem in the U.S. Instead, it’s an issue throughout the world and has become a concern for policymakers of every kind.

According to a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan, the most dangerous parts of the world for vehicle crashes are South America, the Middle East, South East Asia, and Africa.

The safest area for people involved in vehicle accidents was Europe. Across the world, deaths from vehicle crashes made up 2.4% of all fatalities from all different causes. More than 183 countries were analyzed in the research study and they looked at estimated fatalities across 2015 from numerous causes including malignant tumors, strokes, heart disease and road crashes. The lowest percentage of road fatalities happen in Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The United States came in 129th on the list and the top 25 countries with the highest percentages were all located in the Middle East or Africa. Unfortunately, despite the fact that the United States was not at the top of the list with a high percentage of vehicle fatalities from accidents, far too many injuries and fatal accidents could be completely prevented. Many of the vehicle accidents on San Diego and other roads today are due to distracted driving, driving under the influence, drowsy driving, and other preventable situations.

Did you know that as a surviving family member, you may be entitled to pursue an injury claim if you lost a loved one in an accident caused by negligence? No lawsuit or claim against a negligent party will ever compensate you for the loss of a family member, but your decision to take action could give you peace of mind and help you make a positive step forward after a devastating loss from fatal vehicle accidents.