Driving is just as dangerous as ever. In fact, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the first half of 2021 saw a dramatic increase in the number of fatal car accidents on U.S. roadways. The total number of deaths, a staggering 20,160, is an increase of more than 18% from that same time period in 2020 and brings the total number of traffic fatalities to their highest level since 2006.
What’s causing an increase in traffic deaths?
There’s no clear answer yet, but there are a number of contributing factors that have been identified. For example, instances of speeding have increased to a level that is higher than what existed pre-pandemic. Also, the number of overall miles traveled increased significantly as many individuals returned to offices for work purposes. There may be other factors in play here, too, such as increased rates of intoxicated and fatigued driving, but those statistics aren’t available at this point. What is clear, though, is that far too many families are affected by these traffic fatalities.
Efforts to stem traffic deaths fall short
Federal, state, and local governments, as well as public interest organizations have for years tried to promote safe driving to bring down the number of preventable car accidents. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration and other government agencies seek to launch more of these programs in the near future. If the statistics from the first half of 2021 tell us anything, though, it’s that these public awareness campaigns have little impact.
Finding accountability
For those who have lost a loved one to a preventable accident, public awareness campaigns do nothing. These families simply want to find accountability and recover the compensation that they need to get by as they mourn their loss. This, in and of itself, can be a challenging endeavor, but it’s one that can oftentimes be navigated successfully with a little legal know-how and some zealous advocacy. If you and your family could benefit from that kind of representation, then now may be the time to reach out to a legal professional of your choosing.