Serious Car Accidents Linked to Driver Error
August 27, 2019A new report found that 90 percent of serious car accidents are linked to driver error, including distracted driving. There is a demand that new technology be a requirement for automobiles after finding that less than 50 percent of 2019 vehicles were equipped with advanced safety features. The yearly death toll has risen to over 40,000 people per year over the last four years. If you or someone you know was injured in a vehicle accident, you may have options.
Safety Feature Rollouts Have Been Slow
Despite the number of child-related deaths due to car accidents, the roll-out of advanced safety features have been slow. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), 72 percent of child car accident deaths in 2017 were passenger vehicle occupants, 18 percent were pedestrians, and three percent were bicyclists. Passenger vehicle occupants also accounted for most car accident deaths for all age groups of children in 2017.
Advanced Safety Features
Examples of advanced safety features include:
- Automated Emergency Braking: Vehicles with this type of emergency braking warn drivers of an imminent forward collision by using forward-facing cameras and radar. When a driver is too close to another vehicle or pedestrian, the car will apply the brakes.
- Blind-Spot Monitor: This type of monitor system alerts the driver of any potential hazards in their blind-spots.
- Forward-Collision Warning: This advanced safety feature uses both radar and cameras to watch the road ahead for slow traffic or traffic that has stopped. It alerts the driver using visual and audible warnings that a collision is imminent.
How to Avoid a Car Accident
- Avoid distractions. Distractions include texting while driving or failing to use a hand-free device.
- Avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol. It is important to ensure that you are sober when behind the wheel to avoid injuring yourself or others.
- Wear your seat belt. Seat belts have saved more than 300,000 lives since 1960 and have also reduced the risk of serious injuries.
- Avoid driving when you are exhausted. This can be hard if your job requires you to work night shifts. If possible, try to take a nap before having to drive somewhere, especially if you need to drive a long distance.
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Victims Injured Due to Driver Error
The process of filing a car accident claim can be a long and confusing process, but with the right lawyer, you can get through it with favorable results. Contact a Baltimore car accident lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton today for a free consultation. Our lawyers will fight for your rights and obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) to get started.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, 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.