Although car accidents aren't the leading cause of death in the United States, they are a significant factor. But how do we stack up against other countries?

Fortunately, car accident fatalities make up tiny a fraction of a percentage of deaths they cause. The worldwide average is roughly 18 out of 100,000 people per year, or 0.00018 percent. The number itself is low, but it changes a lot depending on which country you're looking at.

The Highs and Lows

Africa tends to have the highest fatality rates. Namibia's yearly percentage rate is around 0.00045 percent fatalities, and many other African countries sit at near 0.00030 percent.

European countries, by contrast, have some of the lowest fatality rates. In fact, a handful countries in Europe are in the bottom ten of the list.

Russia requires all vehicles to have a camera installed and active. Although you might think this would make Russians safer drivers, this is not the case. Russia stands just above the worldwide average for car accident fatalities at 0.000189 percent, despite the requirement for cameras.

The United States' Car Accident Fatality Ranking

In the US, our car accident fatality ranking is slightly below the average at 0.00014 percent, according to statistics from 2008.

The good news is that, as of 2013, the death rate has gone down to 0.000109 percent. The bad news is the total number of yearly accidents has increased by 8 percent during this time.

This nationwide rate isn't the same in every state, either. For instance, in Washington, D.C., the rate is as low as 0.000034 percent, while Wyoming is much higher at 0.000247 percent.

More Work to Be Done

While we are still below the average, there is still more work to be done in improving vehicle technology and driver safety.

If you have been in a car accident that was someone else's fault, we can help. Call the Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo at 561-659-6366 or visit our website to schedule a consultation with a West Palm Beach car accident lawyer..