It is not difficult to find a California driver who has been involved in a car accident at some point in their lives. Most car accidents are minor but it is important to remember that fatal car accidents are one of the leading causes of death.
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we work hard to help our clients who have been injured or have lost a loved one in an accident. Keep reading to get the latest statistics on accidents. If you have been affected by an accident then we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
Overall fatal car accidents are decreasing – but it is not that simple
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fatal car accidents actually decreased from 2016 to 2017. However, before anyone gets excited about this decrease, it is important to look at all the facts.
While overall deaths on the roads have gone down around 2%, fatal accidents involving SUVs and tractor trailers have gone up by nearly 6%. Even more alarming, fatal accidents involving large straight-truck accidents have gone up nearly 19%.
Why are these specific fatal accidents on the rise?
Experts believe that the huge increase in deaths in large truck accidents can be attributed partially to the fact that there is an overall increase in traffic density. This means that there are more cars on the road then there were just a few years ago – especially in urban areas. The more vehicles there are, the more accidents there are likely to be.
Also interesting to note, not wearing a seatbelt was found to be a factor in many of the large-truck fatal accidents. In fact, from 2016 to 2017 there was a 16% increase in the number of fatal accidents involving truck drivers and passengers who were not wearing a seatbelt. Though laws have been passed in recent years to prevent fatigue in truck drivers, the professionals still say it is a factor in many of these accidents.
Looking at the effect of alcohol and drug related accidents
The most recent statistics point to a decrease in fatal accidents related to alcohol. However, the deaths related to other intoxicating substances have gone up, including those involving marijuana and opioids. The question is whether the overall drug and alcohol involved accidents are up when all of these types of substances are considered.
We can help you if you have been injured in a vehicle accident
If you have been injured in an accident then your next call should be to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal accident then you should call us. Either way, you can take advantage of a free legal consultation that will help you better understand the options available to you.
