In 2015 the number of traffic fatalities rose to 35,092 people, a 7.2% increase from 2014. This increase, though deviating slightly by category, shows traffic deaths rising in almost every category. The last time there was a single-year increase of this magnitude was in in 1966 when traffic fatalities rose 8.1%. Because of this historic increase, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has issued a call to action to data scientists and public health issues to address this issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, job growth and lower fuel prices lead to an increase in driving, including an increased amount of leisure driving and teenage driving.
Bicycle, Motorcycle, and Pedestrian Crash Incidents See Sharp Increase
Most noticeable in the published research is the the sharp percentage increases in fatality level associated with bicycle, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycling has seen an increase in popularity over the last decade. Cities throughout the United States are now investing in infrastructure to support this including bike sharing and rental programs and an increase in bicycle lanes. Sadly, as a recent fatal accident in Chicago shows, these safety measures still leave bicyclists vulnerable to accidents caused by negligent, distracted, careless, and drunk drivers. 2015’s 12.2% increase in bicycle accident shows how much work it still to be done to protect bicyclists.
One of the many bicycle accident cases our attorneys represented is a wrongful death case for a client whose family member was run over by a right turning 18 wheeler. Below, see attorney Eric Hageman discuss the case and the video that was created by experts he hired. Eric won a $2.4 million jury verdict.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents increased by 9.5% in 2015 and are at their highest number since 1996. One of the main causes of this could be distracted driving. Drivers are driving distracted about 10% of total time they spend on the road. The risks associated with distracted driving are great, and solutions to these problem need to be forthcoming.
Motorcycle Accidents
Just as it is easy for drivers of cars and trucks to not notice bicyclists, motorcyclists are often put in dangerous situations due to the inattentiveness of other motor vehicle drivers. In 2015 there was a 8.3% increase in the number of motorcycle fatalities. The fatality totals for 2015 are the largest since 2012.
Sharp Increase in Injuries from Motor Vehicle Crashes
As well as marking a sharp increase in deaths from car and truck crashes, 2015 marked an increase in people injured in motor vehicle crashes. 105,000 more people were injured in 2015 than 2014 in crashes and accidents throughout the United States
Lawyer for Fatal Car and Semi Truck Accident
Attorney Eric Hageman has been representing victims of accidents and their families for over 20 years. Because of this experience, he knows how serious these accidents can be, and how important it is to try each case differently. Hiring the right expert witnesses, choosing the right state to file a claim in, knowing how to inspect a vehicle properly, and understanding the complexity of state and federal trucking regulations are all important and have resulted in over $33 million in winnings for Eric’s clients in the past 2 years alone.
source:
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812318