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Why are fatal crashes on the rise?

On Behalf of | Jun 19, 2023 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Deadly car accidents have been a problem since automobiles were invented, but recent decades have generally seen a decline in fatal crashes. There are usually more drivers on the road every year, as the population grows, but many factors help to reduce the frequency of fatal accidents. Auto technology has gotten much better, for example, which can help to keep people safe or prevent accidents from happening in the first place.

However, the last few years have shown a significant change in the trend. Fatal car accidents are becoming more common once again. Why is this happening when technology is just getting better?

Drivers are making more mistakes

What it comes down to is the fact that drivers often cause accidents because of human error. It’s one of the top causes, with examples including things like running a stop sign or turning the wrong way down a one-way street. Almost every accident begins with some sort of mistake that a driver made.

In the last couple years, drivers have been drinking and driving more often, breaking the speed limit more than they used to and engaging in many other reckless driving behaviors. Distracted driving is as bad as it’s ever been, largely thanks to the smartphone. Plus, while traffic levels were lower in 2020 and 2021, drivers simply sped up as a result, leading to more deadly crashes.

What are your options?

This information shows that you’re always going to face a serious amount of risk from the drivers around you. If you get injured or if a loved one passes away, be sure you know about your legal options.