Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers: Traffic Fatalities Peak in 2016
March 9, 2017
Recent findings from the National Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show roadside fatalities are higher than they have been in close to a decade. A number of factors have contributed to this steady rise, including low gas prices, an improving economy, and hazardous driving behavior like texting and driving and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Safety officials hope to reverse this dangerous trend by imposing stricter laws that will encourage drivers to be more responsible.
There were approximately 40,200 fatal car accidents in 2016, which was a six percent increase compared to 2015, and a 14% increase from 2014. According to the nonprofit safety advocacy group, the National Safety Council (NSC), this rise in fatalities could be influenced by risky driving behavior. For example, results of a survey indicate that 47% of drivers regularly text while driving. In addition, ten percent of drivers responded that they drive drunk on occasion, resulting in 43% of them being involved in a car accident. Sixteen percent of responders reported that they do not wear seat belts every time they drive, and 25% of those surveyed admitted to speeding in residential areas.
The chief executive of the NSC warns that complacency is a big part of the problem. There was a six percent rise in deaths last year, but only a three percent rise in vehicle miles travelled. In a recent press conference, the NSC said that driver complacency has led to too many preventable fatalities.
Safety Recommendations to Reduce Fatalities
Problems like this do not get fixed overnight, but NSC officials have proposed a number of safety initiatives in an effort to dramatically reduce traffic fatalities. For example, they have proposed a ban on all cell phone use, including hands-free devices, any time an individual is operating a vehicle. In addition, they have recommended that mandatory ignition interlock devices be installed for anyone who has been convicted of drunk driving. For new drivers under the age of 21, they have also recommended a three-tiered driver licensing system, which would prohibit an individual from driving at night before the age of 18 and limit the number of teenage passengers to only one.
In addition to the increased number of fatalities in 2016, the costs associated with these wrecks totaled an astronomical $432.5 billion. In addition to the costs stemming from fatalities and other serious injuries, costs also included property damage to the vehicles involved.
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Seek Compensation for Families of Victims of Fatal Car Accidents
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, the grief and shock can be overwhelming. The dedicated and compassionate Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton will secure the documentation needed, including police reports, witness testimonies, and medical reports, to fight for the maximum financial compensation you and your family deserve. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
