Highway Traffic Safety Administration Says that Traffic Deaths Are Up by 7.7% in the United States
Preliminary data has been shared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicating that there has been a 7.7% increase in motor vehicle fatalities over the last year.
In 2015, an estimated 35,200 individuals suffered fatal injuries in car accidents, an increase from 32,675 reported traffic deaths in 2014. According to the agency, if this trend continues, car accident fatalities will be at their highest level since 2008.
Other details released by the Federal Highway Administration in recent news indicate that people are driving more. The vehicle miles travelled in 2015 increased by approximately 107 billion miles or 3.5%.
The fatality rate over 2015 also increased to 1.12 fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles travelled. That’s an increase from the 2014 numbers of 1.08 fatalities for every 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Some of the most significant increases across the country for fatalities in traffic accidents impacted motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Fatalities for drivers and passengers were also on the rise, as were fatalities involving large commercial trucks.
Some of the most common causes of serious car and trucking accidents today include:
- Drugged driving
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Failing to use safety features like child seats and seatbelts
- Distracted driving
These alarming vehicle accident statistics are part of what is behind numerous campaigns around the country to curb dangerous behaviors behind the wheel.
Many of the most serious trucking and vehicle accidents in Florida and beyond are completely preventable.
This is especially true when someone gets behind the wheel of a car drunk or distracted and causes irreparable damage for accident victims.
A major car accident can leave victims paying the price in the form of many different types of injuries, including:
- Brain injury
- Neck and back injury
- Broken bones
- Burns and scars
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
Some individuals may sustain injuries so severe that they are never able to return to work again or experience life normally as they did prior to the accident.
If this applies to an accident in which you have recently been injured, you may be eligible to file a claim for personal injury compensation.
Also Read : Types of Personal Injuries
If your injuries are severe and long lasting, you need to consult with a Florida personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
If you have recently lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim.
If you have been injured in a car accident recently, you could be able to pursue a personal injury claim in Florida after speaking with an experienced attorney.
A lawyer can help you understand what’s involved with your case and how to recover compensation for your injuries. After a major accident, recovering compensation may be the only way for you to begin to piece your life back together.
How Do I Know Whether My Case is Eligible?
In Florida, you first have to use your personal injury protection insurance and max that out before you can pursue a legal claim against a responsible party.
It is not uncommon to discover, however, that you have a claim exceeding the PIP cap because your injuries may lead to expensive medical bills immediately.
Trying to care for your injuries over the long run is likely to exceed that cap as well.
If another party is responsible for the crash, this is the most important element of your case to determine whether or not you can file a legal claim.
Having a lawyer to help you with this process and to explain how personal injury law works in Florida can be extremely helpful during an otherwise challenging time.
A Boca Raton vehicle accident attorney will speak to you about your case during an initial consultation and help provide you with next steps to take, should you need to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Consult with a Florida Car Accident Attorney
A personal injury lawsuit may be the only way to recover compensation significant enough to help you cover your medical bills and any other damages associated with the accident.
If you need further information, an initial conversation with a Florida car accident attorney can help give you the details necessary to file a claim.
Did you know that some of the country’s most dangerous highways are located right in Florida? Learn more here: https://www.glotzerlaw.com/2016/04/08/florida-highway-accidents-are-so-dangerous/
