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Human errors and distracted driving are causing an increase in deadly accidents.

Why Our Roads Are Becoming Less Safe

It’s 2017, and modern cars are equipped with more safety features than ever before, including back-up cameras, parking sensors, and even alerts to make sure that all passengers are buckled up. And yet despite these advances in technology, statistics show that we are less safe on our roads than we have been in more than a decade.

According to the National Safety Council, 2016 was the deadliest year for car accident related fatalities in over ten years. Last year, more than 40,000 people were killed in car crashes, an increase from 32,675 fatalities since 2014. This study also showed that more than 4.6 million people required medical attention after car accidents, and that the cost of car accidents to society was 432.5 billion dollars. That is an increase of 12 percent from 2015.

There are a number of factors behind the increase in fatalities and injuries related to accidents in 2016. Human error is the biggest driving force behind many accidents. The National Safety Council surveyed drivers in 2016 about their risky driving behaviors, and found that many people felt comfortable engaging in behaviors such as speeding, texting, or driving under the influence of marijuana or alcohol.

Some experts attribute the increase in highway fatalities and injuries to the number of teenagers on the road — and the type of distracted driving behaviors that many of them tend to engage in, such as texting while driving. One survey, conducted by AAA, found that 88% of young millennials engaged in at least one risky behavior — such as texting or speeding — while driving in the past 30 days. However, in the same survey, more than 40% of drivers of all ages admitted to engaging in some form of risky driving behaviors, such as sending texts or emails or otherwise using a phone. While teenagers and young adults may be more likely to engage in distracted driving behavior, they are certainly not the only ones — and we should all take care to make better choices when it comes to driving.

Car accidents claim the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year, and cause injuries to millions more Americans. Some of these injuries have the potential to be incredibly serious and can even alter a person’s life forever. That is why it is so important that we all take responsibility for our driving behavior, and avoid engaging in risky driving behavior. That includes speeding, driving under the influence or alcohol or drugs, and using a phone while driving.

At the Law Offices of Larry H. Parker, our team of knowledgeable car accident attorneys are here to help victims of car accidents. We work hand-in-hand with you to get the best possible recovery for your injuries, and we never charge a fee unless we recover money for you. We have a 95% success rate, and have recovered more than $2 billion dollars on behalf of 100,000 clients. Contact our office today for a free initial consultation at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com.