Car accident rates increased significantly in 2020 and 2021. In fact, 2021 saw more than a 10% increase in fatal car crashes compared to 2020. Some of this was attributable to speeding and intoxication, but the numbers were still unexpectedly high given how few people were on the road during that time.
Although those number were tragic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released new data showing that car accident deaths have decreased in both 2022 and the first part of 2023. The first quarter of 2023 alone saw a 2.6% decrease in traffic fatalities. Although these statistics have been trending in the right direction for the last year, the truth remains that far too many people are injured and killed in these wrecks each year.
What is causing all of these car accidents?
There are many factors. As mentioned above, speeding and intoxication continue to play a significant role, with almost a third of fatal crashes in 2021 involving excessive speed and more than 10,000 deaths a year involving drunk driving.
But there are other contributing factors, too. This includes distracted driving, which accounted for 6% of traffic fatalities in 2021, and drowsy driving, which causes hundreds of deaths per year.
What should you do if you were injured in or lost a loved one to a car accident?
Although you’ll need time to grieve over what’s happened to you and your family, you’ll also want to take action if you hope to find accountability and recover compensation. We know that can be hard to do as you focus on the physical and emotional trauma that’s been caused, but you can seek out support to help you in various regards, thereby making it easier for you to find a path toward a successful recovery. But the time to act is now.
