Injury and Fatality Statistics Stemming from New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of death in the United States. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, each year, more than 37,000 people die because of involvement in motor vehicle accidents in the United States and an additional 2.35 million people were injured. With motor vehicle accident fatality and injury statistics continuing to rise, it is more important than ever that people exercise caution when driving. Driving cautiously reduces the chances that you will be involved in an accident. However, because there are still many careless drivers on the road, practicing caution does not completely safeguard you from getting into motor vehicle accidents. Nevertheless, understanding some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents can help you to ascertain when fellow drivers are driving carelessly and when to take extra measures to help prevent careless drivers from crashing into you.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is among the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents in the United States. In fact, in 2016 alone, 3,450 people throughout the country died as a result of being involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver. When distracted driving occurs, it is usually because the driver of the motor vehicle is using a cell phone to call or text others, check social media, or to use music streaming or GPS applications. However, distracted driving may also occur when drivers eat or drink, apply makeup, read, change radio stations, or even talk with passengers while driving. Signs that a person is driving distractedly include swerving in between lanes unexpectedly and without signaling, ignoring traffic signals like stop signs or red lights, and stopping abruptly due to a failure to recognize a change in the speed of traffic ahead. If you observe a driver exhibiting one or more of these driving behaviors, it is best to steer clear of them.
Drunk Driving
In line with distracted driving, drunk driving accounts for many motor vehicle accident fatalities and injuries each year. In New Jersey, of the 624 reported motor vehicle fatalities in 2017, 125 of them were caused by drunk drivers. Drunk driving is a common cause of motor vehicle accidents because alcohol impairs a person’s judgment and coordination and slows reaction times. Like distracted drivers, drunk drivers have a tendency to swerve in between lanes unexpectedly and ignore traffic signals. However, drunk drivers may also engage in excessive braking or tailgating. If you spot a driver engaging in these types of behaviors, it is best to maintain a safe distance between your car and that driver to ensure that the driver does not swerve into you unexpectedly.
Exhaustion
Exhaustion or fatigue is another common cause of motor vehicle accidents. Because exhaustion also impairs judgment and coordination and also slows reaction times, exhausted drivers will often exhibit the similar driving behaviors as drunk drivers. However, in certain cases, exhausted drivers may even fall asleep behind the wheel. When drivers fall asleep behind the wheel, a crash is almost certain to occur. In order to avoid crashes due to exhaustion, it is best that you refrain from driving if you have not gotten adequate rest. Moreover, if you observe another driver swerving or weaving between lanes, failing to adhere to traffic signals, and exhibit slow reaction times to other vehicles on the road, it is best to maintain a safe distance between you and that driver.
Speeding and Road Rage
Often going hand in hand, speeding and road rage both cause many motor vehicle accidents. While some may think that speeding is not a big deal, there is a reason roads have speed limits. Speed limits mark the highest speed that a vehicle can safely travel on a road pursuant to the recommendation of the engineer who built the road. Consequently, when drivers drive above the marked speed limit, they increase their chances of losing control of their vehicle and losing the ability to stop in a timely fashion. In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 9, 717 people died in the United States in motor vehicle accidents caused by speeding.
When people experience road rage while driving, they oftentimes have a tendency to speed. However, drivers overcome by road rage also engage in other risky driving behaviors, which often result in motor vehicle accidents. For example, a driver experiencing road rage may tailgate another driver, cut other drivers off, or ignore traffic signals. All of these behaviors have the potential to cause rear-end collisions as well as t-bone collisions.
Contact a Haddonfield Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Andres, Berger & Tran represent clients injured because of car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents in Haddonfield, Camden, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, and throughout New Jersey. Call (856) 437-4080 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 264 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
