According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more people who die in car crashes in the U.S. than in other first world countries. The CDC report analyzed 2013 accident figures, the most recent data available to study trends. In 2013 alone, there were over 32,000 people who died in this way in the U.S., which equates to about 90 deaths every day.
Although there has been a 31 percent decrease in the death rate for this occurrence over the past 13 years, the U.S. has seen the slowest drop in the rate of this event when compared to 19 other relatively well-off countries, which have gone down an average of 56 percent during that time.
This is a major issue in the United States, and it is tragically taking more than its share of innocent lives. However, there are things that people can do in order to minimize this occurrence. You should always wear your seat belt when driving. According to the CDC Vital Signs report, there would be about 3,000 people saved every year if everyone wore their seat belts at all times in their vehicles. People should make sure that in their cars, everyone in every seat is buckled up, no matter how short the trip is. Children should always be buckled up in the backseat of the car in a seat belt, booster seat, or car seat, depending on how old they are.
Additionally, you should not drive when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and you should also encourage others to make the same decision. A large number of accidents are caused by impaired drivers. People can also make sure to respect speed limits on any given street or highway. They can also make the effort to pay attention while they are driving, meaning they should not be talking on a cell phone and especially not texting while they are driving. Essentially, people should be practicing safe driving habits each and every time they get behind the wheel.
If you have been injured or had a loved one injured or killed in a car accident, there are measures that you can take to ensure that justice is served. You can contact an attorney who practices personal injury law to schedule a free consultation and figure out what your rights are and to what kind of compensation you are entitled for your suffering.