Have you ever wondered if car accidents are really a public safety problem? How many fatal car accidents happen each year in the United States? What’s the trend in traffic deaths– are they increasing, decreasing, or about the same?
On February 12, 2019, the National Safety Council released statistics on some of these questions. The numbers seem pretty serious — but on the question of whether car accidents are a national emergency, judge for yourself.
The National Safety Council says that, for the last three years, there have been at least 40,000 people killed in motor vehicle accidents each year in the United States. Specifically, 2018 saw an estimated 40,000 people die in car crashes. In 2017, there were 40,231 deaths in motor vehicle accidents. And, in 2016, the number of people who died because of auto collisions or traffic accidents was 40,327.
What about traffic accidents resulting in injury, but not fatalities? The National Safety Council estimated 4.5 million people were seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2018.
So, what do numbers like these mean to those of us who drive on American roads every day?
The numbers show that more than 100 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States every day. Since the annual number of traffic collision deaths has remained very close to 40,000 a year for multiple years, it means about 100 people have lost their lives in car accidents every day for multiple years. Sadly, there appears to be no end in sight.
What about the 4.5 million people who were in car crashes in 2018 that were not fatal, but resulted in serious injury? This statistic equates to more than 12,000 serious injury accidents happening every day across the country.
Is Anybody Doing Anything About This Problem?
Law enforcement is doing the best it can with the decreasing or static budgets that are the norm in most states. Juries in court cases can make a difference by holding dangerous drivers responsible if they hurt someone. Each of us may be able to do something about this just by being aware of these statistics.
If the news reported that 100 people are killed every day as a result of commercial airline crashes in the United States, do you think the nation would be in an uproar?
What if the news reported that 12,000 people a day are seriously injured in railroad or subway mishaps in America?
The statistics on car accident fatalities and serious injuries are staggering, and hypothesizing about these statistics in another context puts in perspective how shocking they are. Should our government declare traffic accidents a “national emergency”? It’s difficult to say for sure, but the numbers certainly demonstrate that driving is a hazardous aspect of American life.
Experienced Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorneys
If you or a family member have been involved in a car accident that resulted in serious injury or death, please contact Gaddis, Herd, Craw & Adams, P.C. Our lawyers have served the Colorado Springs community for over 40 years, providing focused, individualized legal counsel and advocacy for personal injury victims.
Call (719) 249-6240 or send a message through our websiteto discuss your case with our firm.