The roads throughout the United States can be dangerous, and car accidents occur on a regular basis. While multiple parties are aware of these issues, including automakers, government officials, and drivers and other road users, safety issues have continued to affect people, and the number of fatal accidents has continued to increase. Unlike many other countries, which have taken steps to improve roadway safety and reduce traffic fatalities, the United States has allowed for conditions that put many people at risk of harm. Those who are injured in car accidents will need to understand their options for pursuing compensation from a negligent driver or other responsible parties, and they can do so with the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer.
Reasons for Car Accident Deaths in the United States
The transportation system in the U.S. is designed with cars in mind, ensuring that as many people as possible can travel to their destinations quickly. Unfortunately, this emphasis on cars over people has led to safety issues that have resulted in increasing numbers of traffic fatalities. In 2021, almost 43,000 people were killed in car accidents, and many more suffered serious injuries. This represented an increase of more than 10 percent from 2020, continuing a troubling trend in which overall car accident rates have risen significantly over the last decade.
There are multiple reasons for the increase in the number of car accident deaths, but many of them stem from a failure to take steps to protect the safety of all road users. The average size of vehicles in the United States has increased, and while these vehicles provide high levels of protection for drivers and passengers, they do not take the safety of those outside of vehicles into account. Pedestrians and bicyclists are more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries in collisions with large vehicles. Trucks or SUVs can also cause a great deal of damage to smaller cars, resulting in injuries for their occupants.
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