Car accident victims and their families share protections through the legal process when harmed by a car accident. The National Safety Council recently reported that preliminary numbers reveal that the number of fatal traffic accidents has increased by 9 percent for the first 6 months of 2016 when compared to the same period of time last year. The number of car accident fatalities in increasing despite improved car safety. The rate of car accident fatalities has been on the rise since 2014. Florida has seen the largest increase in car accident fatalities which have increased 43 percent since 2014.
In addition to the increase in car accident deaths, there were 2.2 million car accident injuries during the first 6 months of 2016. While car safety has increased, more miles are also being driven, and experts note that no amount of car safety matters when drivers are failing to pay attention. It is also observed that increased distracted driving, including the use of information systems, and increased use of cell phones is likely a significant factor in the increases and responsible for keeping the numbers up.
Victims of car accidents may face significant challenges not of their own making. Negligent drivers, such as distracted drivers, may leave car accident victims with physical, financial and emotional damages. They may be left with mounting medical bills and missed days of work piling up. As a result, the legal process provides recourse for car accident victims and their families to recover compensation for the damages they have suffered because of the careless actions of another driver.
Because car accidents are, unfortunately, all too common, it is important for victims and their families to be familiar with the range of legal options available to them when harmed. Car accident victims and their families are protected through the legal process and should be aware of the different types of assistance available to them.
Source: USA Today, “Car crash deaths climb despite better auto safety,” Kimiya Manoochehri, Aug. 26, 2016
