June Is National Safety Month

According to national statistics, accidental injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44 and the leading cause of disability for Americans of all age groups. Not only do accidental injuries and deaths have a devastating effect on the victims and their families, but there is also a significant impact on the economy. Estimates by the NSC put the price tag of accidental injuries each year at more than $730 billion. Many of these deaths and injuries are preventable, which is why each year, the National Safety Council (NSC) designates the month of June as National Safety Month.

During the month, the NSC will focus on one safety topic each week. This year, the topics they’ve chosen are:

• • • Mental health
    • Ergonomics
    • Building a safety culture
    • Driving

Car Accident Statistics 

The national statistics for vehicle accidents each year are staggering. Each year, there are approximately six million car accidents, resulting in more than three million victims who suffer injuries. Many of these victims do not survive their injuries. In fact, more than 90 people die in car accidents every day in this country. For those victims who do survive, about two million of them are left with permanent injuries or disabilities.

Causes of Car Accidents

Crashes can happen due to a variety of factors; however, multiple studies have identified the most common reasons why car accidents happen, including the following:

• • • Distracted driving: Despite all of the warnings from safety advocates, drivers continue to engage in distracted driving activities. Distracted driving has become the most frequent cause of vehicle accidents and the number of distracted driving crashes continues to increase each year, with one out of every five accidents caused by a distracted driver. Each day, more than 1,000 people are injured in distracted driving crashes and almost 10 people a day are killed.
    • Drunk driving: Every day, 29 people are killed in alcohol-related crashes. That comes out to a victim killed every 50 minutes, totaling more than 10,000 people killed each year.
    • Speeding: According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for the past 20 years, speeding has caused more than one-third of all the vehicle accident deaths in the U.S. and is responsible for the deaths of almost 10,000 victims annually.
    • Reckless driving: Aggressive driving, multiple lane changes, and excessive speed often lead to tragic disasters.
    • Weather conditions: Although drivers do not have control over the weather conditions, they may find themselves driving in, they do have control over taking the appropriate safety steps and adjust their driving to minimize their risk of crashing.

Unfortunately, as these statistics bear out, there are far too many drivers on the road who engage in dangerous driving behaviors that put other commuters at high risk of being injured or killed in a crash. Sometimes, no matter how safe of a driver you are, there is no way to avoid an accident with a driver who is looking at their phone instead of the road or speeding. This is why it is so critical to always wear your seatbelt no matter how quick your drive will be.

Multiple studies have proven that seatbelts do indeed save lives. Wearing a seatbelt reduces a car accident victim’s risk of being injured by 45 percent and the risk of being killed by 45 percent. If you don’t wear a seatbelt, you are also 30 times more likely to be ejected from your vehicle if the impact of the crash is hard enough.

Call a Seasoned Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses your injuries have caused. These losses include medical expenses, loss of income and benefits, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, permanent disability, scarring, disfigurement, and more.

A skilled car accident attorney from our firm can make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

To schedule a free consultation, call Kirshenbaum Law Associates at (401) 467-5300or contact us online today.