Most of the vehicles on the road today have some valuable safety features. These include crumple zones, airbags, seat belts and collision-avoidance systems. Consequently, you might expect roadways to be safer now than ever before. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
According to reporting from CNBC, nearly 43,000 Americans died in traffic accidents in 2021 alone. This number represents a more than 10% increase in fatalities from the previous year. If cars are becoming safer, why are so many individuals dying in car accidents?
Distracted driving
Distracted driving undoubtedly is one explanation for the spike in traffic fatalities recently. Just as cars have become safer, smartphones have become more popular. Simply put, when drivers take their eyes off the road to respond to text messages or scroll through social media, they have a greater probability of causing or contributing to motor vehicle accidents.
Impaired driver
Even though law enforcement agencies across the country have stepped up impaired driving enforcement, drunk and drugged driving remain common problems. Sadly, when drivers are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are more likely to kill or injure innocent drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
Reckless driving
Reckless driving can include speeding, tailgating and even road rage. Each of these might increase a driver’s chances of causing a serious crash, of course. As a result, until motorists commit to driving more reasonably and responsibly, catastrophic car accidents are going to continue to be commonplace.
Even though roads seem to be more dangerous, you probably cannot stay off public roadways forever. Ultimately, if you suffer a serious injury in a collision, you might have grounds to seek substantial financial compensation.
