Congress considers strategies to reduce auto accidents

Anyone in North Carolina who takes to the road will understand the litany of dangers that can come up without warning. Regardless of the type of vehicle a person drives, there is inherent risk. Often, that is due to other drivers. Trucks are large and intimidating with drivers who might be on the road for extended periods and take unnecessary chances. Passenger vehicles could place others in jeopardy due to distraction, drivers who are under the influence, recklessness and speeding. Motorcycles can seemingly come out of nowhere. Although there are currently safety laws in place, there is always room for improvement. Prevention is always preferable, but if there is a collision with injuries and death, those who were impacted should understand their rights.

Congress seeks to implement new laws to enhance road safety

Alarmed by fatality statistics, Congress hopes to shore up road safety by improving current laws. That requires research into what the problems are. According to the latest comprehensive numbers, there were more than 36,000 road deaths in auto accidents in 2019. The numbers are from research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been improvement in the overall statistics of road fatalities in the past quarter century, but legislators believe more work can be done. Losing an estimated 100 people on average per day is a substantial number and brings to light the scope of the problem. Human activities behind the wheel such as driving under the influence, distracted driving and speeding are cited as reasons for the spike in fatal crashes.

2020 had a rise in fatal accidents

The National Safety Council (NSC) notes that 2020 had an unexpected growth in road fatalities when put in the context of the amount of driving people did. Fewer people took to the road because of the health crisis, but when the stay-at-home orders went into effect, there a rise in fatal crashes in March and April 2020 when compared to the prior year. During the year, the numbers remained high. For example, there were increases month to month in 2020 vs. 2019. In June, road deaths rose by 17%; July and August saw 13% increases in each month; in September, it was up by 19%; and in October, it rose by 9%. This is believed to be due to drivers taking liberties with the law and ignoring basic safety procedures due to the decline in traffic and reduction in enforcement.

Considering options after auto crashes is key

The aftermath of an auto accident can cause many challenges in a person’s life. In addition to the need for medical care and the time it takes to recover, there will likely be medical expenses and lost income. People could be confronted by the reality that they will never again be the same as they were before. Trying to prevent accidents is a wise strategy, but there are demographics who are inherently vulnerable to collisions. Teens, first responders, delivery workers and elderly people are in that category due to various factors like inexperience, time spent on the road, needing to head toward dangerous situations and lost reflexes.

Being injured or losing a loved one in motor vehicle accidents is a major setback. When it happened due to the negligence or recklessness of another person, it is imperative that they be held accountable. The circumstances of the accident may be crucial to a successful legal claim. Before doing or saying anything, it is useful to have assistance from caring professionals who understand the details of auto crashes, their causes and how to move forward with a legal case. Having advice is a beneficial first step.