Category: Motor Vehicle Accident

The SUV revolution is one reason pedestrian deaths are on the rise. Between 2009 and 2016, pedestrian fatalities caused by motor vehicles in the United States increased by 46 percent. That same time period saw an 81% increase in pedestrian fatalities involving SUVs.

In 2016, alcohol-involved traffic fatalities rose by 1.7 percent, accounting for 28 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths that year. The number of alcohol-impaired crash fatalities has risen steadily since 2014.

The Ford Explorer and the Jeep Grand Cherokee were among eight popular mid-size SUVs in recent safety crash tests, and they received a rating of “poor,” the worst of four possible safety ratings given by IIHS. Ford and Fiat Chrysler manufacturers are known for delayed vehicle replacements and past due vehicle sale dates which results in bad safety ratings.

Safer car models help prevent the likelihood of serious injuries in the event of a crash. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) test and rate vehicles to assist consumers with making smart buying decisions.

Age and more time behind the wheel creates risky behaviors for older teenage drivers. They are involved in approximately 20 percent more accidents than younger teen drivers with less driving experience.

I have been practicing injury law for almost 20 years. To this day, I still receive calls from people involved in car accidents who did not carry full coverage i.e. liability only coverage. Even if you were not at fault for the accident, you are completely at the whim of the other driver’s insurance company.

On March 19, 2018, a 49-year-old woman was killed in Arizona after being struck by an autonomous vehicle. The car was in a fully autonomous mode meaning all integral components were being operated automatically. However, there was a person in the driver’s seat.

Although laws don’t allow anyone the right-of-way, drivers must yield the right-of-way in certain traffic conditions. Failure to yield the right-of-way often leads to serious auto accidents. To create a safe traffic environment for cars, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers are expected to obey right-of-way rules set forth by each state.

Bike messengers in Chicago face high risks of injuries due to car accidents, negligent drivers, and road rage. Riding at high speeds, bike messengers are vulnerable to a variety of sudden, unexpected on-the-job injuries.

America’s roads are getting more dangerous and in 2015, 35,092 people were killed in automobile accidents. This was a 7% increase from 2014. The high number of fatalities made 2015 the deadliest year in the past 10 years, and the fastest increase in more than 50 years.