Last year, the United States saw the biggest increase in traffic deaths in more than 50 years. It included the death of 38,300 motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians and more than 4.4 million total injuries. Economy improvements that put more drivers on the road may be partially to blame, but experts say that is just not enough to account for such a drastic rise. There are a number of common reasons that auto accidents occur, however, and it is possible that an increase in these types of behaviors may have also been a factor in the rise of crashes throughout the country.
Distracted Driving
During an analysis of crashes from July 3, 2005, to December 31, 2007, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that recognition error was the most prevalent reason for accidents in the United States. Overall, this human error type, which included things like driver inattentiveness and internal/external driver distraction, accounted for about 41 percent of all crashes over that time period. More specifically, the National Safety Council (NSC) listed distracted driving as the third most common cause of all traffic deaths in the United States (26 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2015).
Drunk Driving
Considered the number one cause of accidental death of road users, drunk driving accounted for 30.8 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2015. In the NHTSA study, the role of drunk driving in accidents throughout the United States was not specifically listed. However, it may have been encompassed in the decision error portion of accident causations, which accounted for about 33 percent of all traffic accidents over the study time period.
Speeding
Drivers often speed to make up time when they are running late, but few truly think about the consequences of doing so. Maybe if more understood just how many deaths this action causes, they would think differently. The National Safety Council has listed it as the second leading cause of fatal car crashes (30 percent of all fatal crashes). Further, it, too, may have been encompassed in the decision error portion of accident causes in the NHTSA study.
When an Accident Results in Death or Injury
Car crashes can lead to severe injuries and death. If one has happened to you or someone you love, you may be owed compensation. At Martinez & Schill LLP, we recognize the impact that these tragic losses and situations can have on your life. Compassionate and dedicated, we will fight to protect your rights, and we always pursue the most favorable outcome possible. Schedule a personalized consultation with our Riverside personal injury attorneys today to learn more. Call 619-512-5995.
Sources:
http://www.nsc.org/learn/pages/nsc-on-the-road.aspx?var=mnd
http://www.newsweek.com/2015-brought-biggest-us-traffic-death-increase-50-years-427759
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812115