Because so many people are injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents in Missouri and across the U.S., researchers, regulatory agencies and government entities are consistently trying to find the common denominator in these crashes. Information can be the key to preventing a vast proportion of them. In the latest statistical research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was found that there was a substantial rise in the number of fatal accidents in 2016. This is a worrisome trend.

In 2016, there were 37,461 deaths on the road in the U.S. This was an increase of 5.6 percent from the previous year. The total number of fatalities was the highest in a decade. This is the second consecutive year in which traffic deaths have increased. In 2015, there was a rise of 8.4 percent – the highest in more than 50 years. Before that year, the number of fatalities had been decreasing, largely believed to have been due to increased safety in vehicles.

The initial belief might be that the increase is due to texting and driving and other distracting behaviors. However, those who are killed because of distractions behind the wheel is going down. The numbers have decreased by 2.2 percent. Fatalities due to drivers falling asleep at the wheel lowered by 3.5 percent. The greatest increase in accidents involved those 65 and older. They had a rise of 8.2 percent. Drunk driving and speeding were also issues. Drivers who were under the influence and in a fatal crash rose by 1.7 percent. Speeding crashes with fatalities were up by 4 percent.

People who are in an auto accident or lost a loved one in a crash must be cognizant of the cause of the accident. With the medical costs, lost wages and long-term issues that frequently accompany an accident with injuries and the family having to deal with the aftermath of a fatal car crash, having legal help to discern how the accident happened can be crucial when seeking compensation in a legal filing. Discussing a case with an attorney who is experienced in car accidents and understands the statistics is imperative when pursuing litigation.

Source: thedrive.com, “U.S. Traffic Deaths Hit a Decade High in 2016,” Eric Brandt, Oct. 7, 2017