Fatal car accidents claim the lives of thousands of people every year in America. In 2019, there were thousands of fatal car accidents that claimed the lives of 38,800 people. Fatal car accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of five and twenty-seven. One-quarter of all fatal car accidents involve a teenager or young child. Each year injury-related and fatal car accidents cost society a total of more than 150 billion dollars. There are many causes of fatal car accidents. When people are killed in fatal car accidents, their family and loved ones have the legal right to seek compensation for their damages and suffering from the party who was responsible for the accident.
Motor Vehicle Deaths
Vehicle occupants are the people most likely to be killed in fatal car accidents. In 2019, almost 29,000 vehicle drivers and 10,000 vehicle occupants lost their lives in fatal car accidents. Each year more than 3,500 motorcyclists are killed in fatal car accidents. More than 5,500 pedestrians are killed each year as a result of fatal car accidents.
Front Impact
According to Department of Transportation statistics, frontal impacts are the cause of death in approximately forty percent of all fatal car accidents. Side impacts account for thirty percent of all fatal car accidents. The remaining fatal car accidents involve single-vehicle accidents, including vehicle rollover crashes, and rear impact accidents. When fatal car accidents involve a collision between an SUV and a passenger car, the occupants in the car are much more likely to be killed. Because of their instability on the road, SUVs are four times more likely to roll over in an accident, making them more likely to be involved in fatal car accidents.
Causes of Fatal Accidents
There are several reasons why fatal car accidents occur. The leading cause of fatal car accidents is driving under the influence of alcohol. More than forty percent of all fatal car accidents are alcohol-related. More than 13,000 people are killed in fatal car accidents involving alcohol every year. Fatal car accidents are also attributable to reckless and negligent driving. Driver inexperience, inattention, fatigue, recklessness, aggressive behaviors, and the like are all major causes of fatal car accidents. Lack of seat belts and helmet use (for motorcyclists) are also major causes of death in fatal car accidents.
Auto Defects
Fatal car accidents can also be caused or contributed to by auto defects related to design production or maintenance. There are several auto defects that can lead to serious injury or death in auto accidents including those involving seat belts, seat backs, roofs, ignition systems, fuel systems, airbags, tires, and door latches. The overall design of SUVs can also increase the risk of fatal car accidents. When auto defects cause fatal car accidents, the auto manufacturer or maintenance professional can be held liable for the resulting damages. In other cases, fatal car accidents occur as a result of poor weather or road conditions.
If you are interested in learning more about fatal car accidents, you may wish to contact a qualified and experienced attorney who can help determine your legal rights and options.