NCDOT finds increase in North Carolina fatal car accidents in 2020

Since the "new normal" began in early 202, many people have had to stay off the roads and in their homes. The N.C. Department of Transportation reported that people drove approximately 24 billion fewer miles in North Carolina in 2020 than they did the year before. However, that did not reduce the number of accident-related fatalities. In fact, NCDOT found that over 1,500 people were killed in more than 1490 fatal accidents in 2020, an increase of 8 percent from 2019.

The data showed that excessive speed played a role in close to one-fourth of these fatal motor vehicle accidents. According to law enforcement officials, this may have been due to the fewer number of cars on the roadways.

Filing a wrongful death claim after an accident

Losing a loved one in a car accident can be devastating for many reasons. In addition to the grief of losing someone you loved, you may also have to deal with the fact that the accident was caused by someone else's negligence. Filing a wrongful death claim against negligent parties holds them accountable for their actions, while also potentially providing financial support for surviving family members. In North Carolina, wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the decedent's death.

A successful wrongful death claim can help family members recover damages for:

• Medical expenses
• Burial and funeral expenses
• Pain and suffering of the decedent
• Household services
• Loss of decedent's income

A personal injury attorney can help you file your claim and handle the various steps of the legal process, while you and your family members focus on grieving your loss.