The roads can be a dangerous place. No matter if you live in the suburbs, in a rural area, or in the big city, the risks of driving on the roads seem to be increasing each year. In fact, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2016 alone, police reported approximately 7,277,000 motor vehicle accidents across the country. Of those accidents, 37,461 resulted in death and 3,144,000 people suffered serious personal injury.
Those are high numbers and do not include the smaller, less severe accidents that also happen on a daily basis. And while we’re not here to scare you about the grim realities of motor vehicle accidents, we believe that an awareness of this risk can help people keep safety in mind as they commute. The more people that practice safe, conscientious driving can help keep the roads safer for everyone.
You might be wondering how all of these accidents are happening. There are many different causes of car accidents and motor vehicle accidents in general. The most common causes of accidents generally include:
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Driving a defective vehicle
- Drowsy driving
Distracted driving has long been a part of driving. Eating, playing with the radio, dealing with screaming kids, and even grooming were all ways in which people would take their attention away from the road. However, since the advent of the smartphone, distracted driving has steadily increased in recent years. Data from the NHTSA report that every day 481,000 people use their cell phones while driving. In 2015, there were 391,000 people injured in accidents and in 2016, 3,450 people were killed due to distracted driving accidents.
Impaired driving is another major cause of accidents in the U.S. The NHTSA states that nearly 29 people each day and more than 10,000 each year are killed in alcohol-related accidents. Alcohol is not the only substance that can cause impaired driving. In 2013-14, a national roadside survey by NHTSA showed that nearly 20 percent of those surveyed tested positive for potentially impairing drugs.
Speeding is also a large factor in the accidents that involve cars and other motor vehicles. In 2016, 10,111 people were killed due to accidents caused by speeding, which was over one-quarter of all traffic-related deaths for that year. Speeding places everyone in danger and is a major cause of our roads being unsafe.
At Portner & Shure, P.A. Attorneys at Law, our experienced car accident lawyers are here for you in the event that you or someone you love is injured due to any of the above common causes of accidents. We believe that if you’re injured due to another’s negligence you deserve justice and the maximum compensation to help you with your pain and suffering.
Please call us today for a free consultation at (855) 954-4141. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. We work on a contingency basis, which means that we don’t get paid unless your case is successful.
