People in Connecticut may be concerned about their risk when they get behind the wheel, especially as National Safety Council statistics indicate that fatal car accidents are on the rise. In 2016, the latest year for which figures are available, 40,200 people lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents, a 6 percent increase over the previous year. The prior year experienced a 7 percent increase from the year before. Just taking 2015 and 2016 into account, accident-related deaths jumped by 13 percent, the largest increase in half a century.
There are many factors that may contribute to the increase in deadly car crashes. Some people point to the dangers of technology, especially the use of smartphones behind the wheel. When people text or surf the internet while driving, they have an increased risk of causing a serious crash. Distracted driving is certainly one major risk on the roads, but it is not the only one. Laws prohibit texting while driving as well as speeding, drunk driving or even operating a vehicle without a wearing seat belt. However, many of these laws are enforced only sparsely, and the consequences can be deadly. Around 33 percent of fatal crashes involve at least one driver under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Speeding is another major concern, especially because it can make otherwise less catastrophic crashes more serious or even fatal. While the total number of car accidents rose by 5 percent, the number of fatalities rose by 25 percent over one period. This points to each crash itself becoming more dangerous.
Car accidents can cause people to sustain severe injuries and lifelong disabilities accompanied by massive medical bills. Individuals who have been injured in an auto accident caused by someone else’s dangerous, distracted or negligent driving can work with a personal injury attorney to seek compensation for their losses.
