Accident statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that the number of lives lost each year on the nations roads has been falling steadily since the mid 1980s. The number of road users killed dropped by more than a third between 2011 and 2014, and many observers feel that this is largely due to the improved safety features found on modern cars, pickup trucks and SUVs sold in Ohio and around the country. These features work especially well in high speed collisions.
While the number of vehicles on the nation’s highways continues to increase, passenger vehicles are now far safer thanks to technology such as anti-lock braking systems, airbags and impact reducing crumple zones. Safety advocates and auto industry representatives expect motor vehicle accident fatality rates to continue to fall in the future as sophisticated accident avoidance and prevention technology becomes more widely available and affordable.
Statistics reveal that 33,804 of the 2.6 million Americans who died in 2013 were killed in motor vehicle accidents, which means that the chances of dying on the nation’s roads is about one in 77. This compares favorably with leading causes of death such as heart disease and cancer, but it is among the highest risks faced by Americans that is not connected with long-term lifestyle choices. Vehicle occupants are the road users most likely to be killed in a crash followed by pedestrians, motorcycle riders and cyclists.
The families of those killed in motor vehicle accidents often face extreme financial hardship as a relied-upon source of household income is lost and bills begin to mount. If their loss was caused by negligent behavior on the part of another motorist, a personal injury attorney could file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking applicable damages on their behalf.