Interesting Insurance Statistics

Insurance may seem like a dull subject, but, as with any topic, there are interesting facts and statistics to be found. Next time you’re out enjoying a cup of coffee in Adelphi, Burtonsville, or anywhere else in Maryland, start a conversation with one of these odd insurance statistics:

• There is a car accident in the US every 8 seconds.
• Here’s one for the current rough economic times: for every 100 newly unemployed people, there will be 75 new people driving without car insurance.
• Washington D.C. is the most dangerous place to drive, with 3.2 fatalities per 100,000 people.
• Hawaii, on the other hand, isn’t just one of the prettiest states; it’s the safest. Traffic fatalities number just 1.9. per 100,000.
• The national average cost for a car insurance policy is $1567. Hawaii’s is cheapest, while Maryland falls just a little above the middle of the pack.
• Seat belts significantly lower the risk of injury during an auto accident. For this reason, all cars, by law, have had to have at least lap belts since 1968.
• The basic concepts behind insurance date back to the Code of Hammurabi. These laws allowed for banks to lend traders the value of the goods they were transporting. If the shipment arrived safely, the loan was repaid, plus interest. If it did not arrive, the loan was forgiven.