Abbott Law Blog

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 3 and 34 in the United States. In 2008, there were 5,811,000 police-reported traffic crashes, which killed over 37,000 people, and injured another 2,346,000. Statistics show that teens 16-19 years old are at the highest risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash. In addition, alcohol is involved in a large number of traffic fatalities each year. Last year, almost 12,000 traffic fatalities involved drunk drivers, translating to one drunk-driving fatality every 45 minutes in 2008. The economic impact of motor vehicle crashes is also substantial, costing hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

As grave as these statistics may seem, traffic fatalities and injuries are actually on the decline in this country. Traffic fatalities in the United States decreased by almost 10% from 2007 to 2008. The number of alcohol-impaired fatalities also decreased by nearly 10% in 2008. This decrease may be attributed to recent media campaigns have helped increase public awareness about the dangers of not using safety belts and child restraints. Although much progress has been made in recent years, motor vehicle accidents continue to be the leading cause of death each year. In 2008, 33% of passenger car occupants and 36% of light-truck occupants involved in fatal crashes were unrestrained.

Automobile accidents stem from a variety of different causes. However, most are caused by inattentive drivers. In particular, the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving has garnered much public scrutiny in recent years. According to the Governors’ Highway Safety Association, six states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington) and the District of Columbia all ban the use of hand-held devices while driving. As more and more individuals use cell phones to communicate with friends and family while driving, the number of traffic-related accidents will continue to increase. In addition, other factors, such as malfunctioning products, poorly designed vehicles, and substandard tires, cause a significant number of this country’s motor vehicle accidents each year.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact Abbott & Associates at (801) 373-1112 to discuss your legal options. Our experienced accident attorneys can help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.