Motor Vehicle Accident Mortality Risk
I’m Ed Smith, a Fair Oaks wrongful death lawyer. Have you ever thought what the odds are of your being killed in a motor vehicle accident? They might be higher than you thought.
Mortality Risk in a Motor Vehicle Accident
According to statistics gathered by the Insurance Information Institute in 2014, the number of deaths nationwide from motor vehicle accidents that year was 35,398. That came out to a risk of 1:9,008 over a one-year period that anyone in a motor vehicle accident might be killed. Over a lifetime, the risk goes up to 1:114. However, according to the National Safety Council, the number of deaths along California roads in 2016 rose much more dramatically in 2016 than the average across the nation. In California, the increase was 13 percent over 2015, compared to a nationwide increase of 6 percent.
Reasons for the Increase
A spokesperson for the NSC reported that improvement in the economy might have something to do with the increase in fatality rates. The better the economy, the more people take to the road and travel. However, safety issues are also involved. High-risk behavior that contributes to motor vehicle fatalities includes speeding, talking or texting on a cell phone, drunk driving and drugged driving.
Speeding and Traffic Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that speeding was involved in 27 percent of the motor vehicle accident fatalities in 2015. Of those killed in crashes,18 percent were going above the speed limit. In 2014, the latest statistics for California by the Office of Traffic Safety revealed there were 9,747 car accident fatalities and injuries. Speeding was reported in 2,376 of those car accidents.
Cell Phone Use
While all cell phones carried by drivers in California must be hands free, even using a cell phone in this way can contribute to a car accident. At least, that’s the opinion of of a spokesperson for the California OTC. He believes that phone usage should be banned in motor vehicles because even hands-free phones are contributing to the accident rate. In a survey conducted by the AAA Foundation, 40 percent of those surveyed admitted that they had texted or emailed someone while behind the wheel of their vehicle within the past month.
Watch Youtube Video ~ Distracted Driving is Like Driving Blind. The video illustrates the dangers of texting while driving.
California Drunk Drivers
The California OTS, in its annual report for 2016, stated that 914 fatalities occurred in 2015 because of drunk drivers. If it is included in the rate of all fatalities in the state, the number represents a 0.6 percent increase in 2015 over the previous year. In addition, 19 percent of driver fatalities tested positive for either legal or illegal drugs.
Fair Oaks Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Fair Oaks wrongful death lawyer. A wrongful death in the family can leave devastation behind. If your family has been victimized by a wrongful death, call me at (916) 921-6400 for free and friendly advice concerning your situation. Outside the calling area, dial (800) 404-5400, or use our easy contact form at AutoAccident.com.
In Northern California, as well as Fair Oaks, many who have suffered a personal injury have contacted my office for help over my 35 years of practice. As an injury lawyer, I specialize in motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents and other types of injuries, particularly those with catastrophic injuries such as brain injuries.
Client reviews and other information on my practice is located at:
Million Dollar Advocates, a forum I belong to, represents trial lawyers who have garnered million dollar settlements or verdicts for clients.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/grave-headstone-cemetery-graveyard-1634994/
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