According to the National Highway and Transport Authority, 9,560 people died in motor vehicle accidents in the first quarter of 2022, a 7% increase compared to 2021, where 8,935 people lost their lives.
Data from the last decade has shown that traffic fatalities are an epidemic plaguing American roads. The trend keeps increasing despite the government’s implementation of measures over the past few years.
To put this into perspective, since the year 2000, more Americans have died in road accidents than in both world wars. Just how many casualties did the wars claim? You ask, 535,000 Americans lost their lives in World War I and II.
Preventable Road Accidents
You may be surprised to know, however, that most recorded road accidents were preventable; intoxicated driving, speeding, and distracted driving have been hailed as some of the biggest causes of road accidents on US roads.
According to a recent study, more than 481,000 Americans use their phones while driving during the daytime, a staggering revelation. On top of that, more than 197,000 people lost their lives between 2000 and 2017 in accidents caused by speeding.
With such staggering numbers, does it imply that traffic laws are not being enforced on American roads? The Laws in Colorado and the entire US have been tailored to encompass some of the most common road accident causes.
But this has only gone so far in preventing road accidents as most drivers flout these rules and evade police radar, which automatically leaves room for recurrence.
Way Forward in the Event of a Road Crash
“As a driver, you will be held responsible for all your actions. Hence, if you cause an accident due to negligence, distractions, or recklessness, then the victim has a legal right to sue you for reimbursement of the damages,” says Attorney Rich Godshall of Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers.
What happens when the victim loses their lives in the crash? The remaining family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
But it is not always as straightforward, and here is why:
Uncovering the At-Fault Party
If a victim decides to sue after a crash, they need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the other party was responsible for the accident. To do this, they must analyze the circumstances that led to the crash.
Some of the questions that can point in the right direction are:
- Was the driver speeding?
- Was the driver on a phone call while driving?
- Was the driver intoxicated?
- Was the driver engaged in any other activity besides driving?
Such queries will help prove the at-fault party and expedite the compensation process.
Final Words
Road accidents are a menace to US roads, and unless driver behavior undergoes a paradigm shift, the death rates are less likely to decrease. Hence, when on the road, you should observe traffic rules and ensure your safety and that of others.
If you are involved in a road accident resulting from negligence or recklessness from another party, you have legal grounds to seek compensation. In your best interest, seek a car accident lawyer to help streamline the procedure.
You can recuperate with an attorney as they handle the often lengthy legal process. On top of that, most of these attorneys do not charge upfront as they take their cut from the compensation.
