Why fatal car accidents are on the rise

Texas drivers may be a bit more anxious when they get into their vehicles these days, especially if they’re aware of the latest statistics from the National Safety Council. The NSC reports that car accident fatalities increased nearly 15 percent over a two-year span. This marks the sharpest increase in more than 50 years. There are several factors that likely contributed to this alarming trend.

Some government officials attribute to spike in deadly crashes to a failure to fully enforce drunk driving, speeding and seat belt laws. Since many fatal accident victims are found not wearing seat belts and nearly a third of all deadly vehicle-related accidents involve an impaired driver, there may be a valid connection between lax law enforcement efforts and the NSC’s accident stats.

One university research associate believes the top fatal accident contributing factor is speeding. He cites stats showing a much larger increase in accident fatalities than total crashes and makes reference to instances when there aren’t enough troopers on duty in certain areas to effectively deter speeding. The fact that more people are on the road because of a strong economy may also be a reason for the spike in fatal accidents. Driver distraction in all of its forms is another key factor. This includes distracted driving from devices that allow drivers to be more connected than ever. As for when deadly crashes are most likely to occur, the Fourth of July ranks first followed by New Year’s Day.

The role of an attorney when working with a personal injury victim is to attempt to determine fault and identify negligent parties. Once this happens, possible actions recommended by a lawyer may include attempting to reach a mutually acceptable settlement or pursuing appropriate legal action to obtain fees for medical costs, vehicle damage, lost wages and pain and suffering.