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Why Have Fatal Car Accidents Increased in Recent Years?
All drivers are aware of the risks of car accidents. When vehicles share the roads and travel at high speeds, what may seem like minor errors by drivers can have deadly results. Because of this, drivers usually take care to drive safely and protect themselves against harm. However, accidents can still occur, and people can be seriously injured through no fault of their own. What many people may not realize is that the risks of being involved in a car crash have increased in recent years. Since 2015, the rate of fatal car accidents in the United States has risen significantly, and some people have been affected by these trends more than others.
Increases in Serious and Fatal Car Crashes
Since the 1970s, the number of car accident deaths in the United States has steadily declined due to the implementation of vehicle safety features, campaigns against dangerous behaviors such as drunk driving, and other factors. However, this trend began to reverse itself starting in 2015. While experts have speculated about the reasons for this change, one factor seems to be the increased use of smartphones. In that year, around two-thirds of adults in the United States owned a smartphone, and this has led to an increase in distracted driving due to texting or making phone calls while behind the wheel.
The rate of fatal accidents has increased even more significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The number of deaths in car accidents has risen by around 20 percent over the past two years. While people initially speculated that this increase was caused by fewer vehicles on the roads, which encouraged speeding, the rate of fatal accidents has stayed the same even after the country opened back up and traffic returned to its normal levels. Multiple factors may be contributing to this issue, including increased levels of drug and alcohol use, as well as higher levels of stress that may lead people to engage in dangerous or impulsive behavior while behind the wheel.
Contact Our Milwaukee Car Accident Lawyers
Regardless of the reasons for the increase in motor vehicle collisions in recent years, those who have been injured in these situations will need to understand their options. At Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP, LLP, we can help victims take the correct steps to pursue compensation from negligent drivers or other parties who were responsible for accidents and injuries. Our Milwaukee, WI car accident attorneys have a wealth of experience, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that victims will be fully compensated. To set up a consultation, contact us today at 414-271-1440.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/23/briefing/traffic-deaths-class-race-covid.html
https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimates-first-quarter-2022
