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Fatal car accidents are on the rise in the U.S.

On Behalf of | Feb 20, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

The average motorist in Virginia can usually be fairly confident about getting behind the wheel as long as they are alert and focused. However, there may be a good reason for drivers to be apprehensive. According to the National Safety Council, driving deaths climbed by 6 percent from 2015 to 2016, the latest year stats of this nature are available for. A similar increase was seen during the previous year, meaning fatal accident rates spiked nearly 15 percent within two years.

Some officials cite lax enforcement of existing drunk driving, seat belt, and speeding laws as a reason for this sharp increase in deaths related to motor vehicle accidents. Many states don’t not consider not wearing a seat belt to be a valid reason to pull someone over. Yet half of all fatal collision victims aren’t wearing a seat belt. Also, roughly a third of all deadly crashes involve a driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Speed often plays a role in many vehicle-related fatalities, a sentiment echoed by a research associate at a leading university who believes speeding is the biggest problem today. Other possible factors contributing to the increase in fatal accidents include the fact that more people are driving for both work-related and recreational reasons since the economy is improving. Distracted driving in all of its various forms – e.g., electronic devices, eating, applying makeup – is also increasingly common.

While certain times of the year tend to be associated with more car accidents than others, any type of serious or fatal collision has the potential to have a big impact on victims and survivors. This is why an attorney might opt to make an effort to identify negligent parties as soon as possible. Possible remedies include attempting to reach a fair settlement and legal action, when necessary, to secure appropriate compensation.