Every day, someone is seriously, catastrophically, or fatally injured due to distracted drivers as well as those that are driving while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The Association for Safe International Road Travels reports that more than 37,000 Americans lose their lives due to vehicle crashes alone on an annual basis.
Traffic Accident Causes
While the number of distracted drivers, or those using handheld cell phones and/or other electronic devices, has slightly decreased, this is still a significant issue. In 2016, for example, the percentage dropped from 2015’s figures of 3.8% to 3.3%.
Motor vehicle crashes are also caused by drunk driving as well as legal and illegal drugs. These substances contributed to roughly 16% of vehicle crashes. It’s important to note that during 2015 alone, there were almost 1.1 million drivers arrested for driving under the influence of either narcotics or alcohol.
Traffic Accident Injuries and Fatalities
On a global basis, teenagers and adults between the ages of 15 to 44 comprise over half of all road traffic fatalities. In 2015, it was estimated that the United States had 32,166 fatal vehicle crashes.
During 2013, motorcyclists experienced 4% of the injuries sustained in traffic accidents, and 14% of all traffic fatalities occurred. In 2015, however, there were 88,000 motorcyclists that sustained injuries. While the number of injuries sustained by motorcyclists did decrease from 92,000 in 2014, this continues to be a serious issue.
Pedestrian deaths are also a serious concern, particularly with adults over 65. In 2015, for example, older adults sustained an estimated 13% of all injuries and 19% of all pedestrian deaths.
When to Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm
If you would like more information about initiating a personal injury, catastrophic personal injury, or wrongful death lawsuit, it’s important to consult with an attorney that has experience within this area of the law. A personal injury lawyer or wrongful death attorney will be able to discuss your case during an initial consultation and respond to questions that you will likely have. Since this is an obviously challenging time, your attorney will be there to assist you with coping through this process.
