Why Have Fatal Car Accidents in the U.S. Increased Recently?

 Posted on December 22, 2022 in Car Accidents

The roads throughout the United States can be dangerous, and car accidents occur on a regular basis. While multiple parties are aware of these issues, including automakers, government officials, and drivers and other road users, safety issues have continued to affect people, and the number of fatal accidents has continued to increase. Unlike many other countries, which have taken steps to improve roadway safety and reduce traffic fatalities, the United States has allowed for conditions that put many people at risk of harm. Those who are injured in car accidents will need to understand their options for pursuing compensation from a negligent driver or other responsible parties, and they can do so with the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer.

Reasons for Car Accident Deaths in the United States

The transportation system in the U.S. is designed with cars in mind, ensuring that as many people as possible can travel to their destinations quickly. Unfortunately, this emphasis on cars over people has led to safety issues that have resulted in increasing numbers of traffic fatalities. In 2021, almost 43,000 people were killed in car accidents, and many more suffered serious injuries. This represented an increase of more than 10 percent from 2020, continuing a troubling trend in which overall car accident rates have risen significantly over the last decade.

There are multiple reasons for the increase in the number of car accident deaths, but many of them stem from a failure to take steps to protect the safety of all road users. The average size of vehicles in the United States has increased, and while these vehicles provide high levels of protection for drivers and passengers, they do not take the safety of those outside of vehicles into account. Pedestrians and bicyclists are more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries in collisions with large vehicles. Trucks or SUVs can also cause a great deal of damage to smaller cars, resulting in injuries for their occupants.

The design of many roads, highways, and intersections in the United States has also failed to take everyone's safety into account. Wide roads and high speed limits result in vehicles traveling at faster speeds, increasing the chances of dangerous accidents. People who use alternative methods of transportation, such as electric bicycles and scooters, may be unable to share the roads safely with motor vehicles, and the design of many roads and intersections has failed to protect the safety of people who are crossing the street, using bike lanes, or traveling near motor vehicles that are moving at high speeds.

The COVID-19 pandemic made many of these issues even worse. During the height of the pandemic, when more people were staying at home, empty roads encouraged drivers to travel at higher speeds, and reckless and dangerous behaviors by drivers led to an increase in car accidents. Unfortunately, these trends have continued even as pandemic restrictions have been relaxed and traffic has returned to previous levels.

Contact a Chicago Car Accident Lawyer

Sadly, the United States has not taken many of the steps that other countries have put in place to improve roadway safety. Car accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, and victims may suffer multiple types of serious injuries. In these situations, a person will need to determine their options for holding the responsible parties liable for their damages. Depending on the circumstances surrounding a collision, a victim may be able to pursue compensation from a negligent driver, a city or state that failed to ensure that a road or intersection was safe, or the manufacturer of defective auto parts. At Kadzai Law Group, LLC, we can help car accident victims understand their options and guide them through the legal process to ensure that they can receive the compensation they deserve. Call our Hyde Park car accident attorney today at 312-229-0050 to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/27/upshot/road-deaths-pedestrians-cyclists.html

https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimate-2021-traffic-fatalities