NSC CEO warns “We cannot afford to tread water anymore,” as over 40,000 people died in 2018 from crash injuries
Once again, we learn of another year with over 40,000 accident victims dying from the bodily injuries they suffered in a motor vehicle accident here in the United States. Another 4,500,000 victims survived the crash, but sustained serious injuries during 2018.
For the third year in a row, fatal motor vehicle accidents have exceeded 40,000 fatalities in this country, according to the latest annual report released by Illinois’ world renowned safety advocates at the National Safety Council.
The number of motor vehicle fatalities is 14% higher than it was in 2014.
Read the NSC 2018 Findings here. The National Safety Council has been analyzing and reporting on accident fatalities for almost a century.
Continuing Causes of Fatal Car Crashes: Why Driving Risks Death on our Roads
Of course, the news of this continuing trend in deadly traffic accidents has many people questioning what is happening to keep these numbers so high.
Why aren’t we safer?
“Forty-thousand deaths is simply unacceptable. We cannot afford to tread water any more. We know what works but need to demonstrate the commitment to implementing the solutions. Roadway deaths are preventable by doubling down on what works, embracing technology advancements, and creating a culture of safer driving.”
The NSC Report points to driver mistakes and negligent driver behavior as one of the main reasons that we continue to see so many people perishing on our roads and highways in traffic fatalities. In other words, many of these deaths are caused by a driver who makes a mistake or fails to operate his or her vehicle in a reasonable and prudent manner. The safety focus remains on drivers causing fatal crashes, for a variety of reasons.
Last year, Indiana saw 859 victims die in these accidents; Illinois had 1048 deaths.
Factors discussed by the NSC include both driver distraction and drowsy driving.
For more on distracted driving, read:
- Distracted Driving Accidents: Proving Distraction Caused Crashes May Be Easier in Illinois With Textalyzer
- Employer Liability for Distracted Driving Accidents in Indiana or Illinois
- Fatal Distracted Driving Accidents: How Much at Risk are You Here in Indiana and Illinois?
For more on drowsy driving, read:
- Drowsy Driving and the Risk of Fatal Traffic Accidents in Indiana and Illinois
- Fatigued, Tired Drivers Said to Cause 20% of All U.S. Traffic Deaths: Drowsy Drivers at Fault?
How Can We Be Safer on the Roads?
The NSC experts offer the following suggestions for everyone driving on our roads today, in response to the reality that the risk of a serious or fatal motor vehicle accident remains unacceptably high:
- Practice defensive driving.
- Use your safety belts.
- Have a designated sober driver or take a cab
- Get plenty of sleep to avoid fatigue
- Drive attentively
- Recognize the dangers of drugged driving, including impairment from prescription opioids.
- Stay engaged in teens’ driving habits.
- Learn about your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them.
- Fix recalls immediately.
Of course, this list runs the gamut of safety issues involved with motor vehicle safety. Some of these issues will be caused by driver error, as for example inattentive driving or driving while fatigued.
However, some of these NSC safety suggestions may expand legal liability to parties other than the driver. For instance, if a defective part or product is the cause of a deadly accident, then the manufacturer of the vehicle as well as the car part may have responsibility for what has occurred.
Similarly, defects in automated technology, designed and sold as part of a “safety system” may exceed the scope of the driver’s negligence and subject the manufacturer to liability based upon product liability laws involving defective design.
Serious and Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents in Indiana and Illinois
For victims of a fatal motor vehicle accident and their families, both Illinois and Indiana have legal protections in place to help them in pursuing claims against those who are responsible for the crash.
Each serious or fatal motor vehicle accident must be investigated by experts to determine all the causes of the crash, particularly as modern technology advances. Was the cause merely driver error? Were other factors to blame, as well?
The new NSC Report confirms that the roads of Indiana and Illinois are still extremely dangerous and deadly for fatal motor vehicle accidents. It is very important that we all be aware of the risks of driving today in our communities, and to know the legal protections that are in place for victims seeking justice in the aftermath of a fatal motor vehicle accident. Please be careful out there!
