America’s roads across the country are congested and crowded at certain times throughout the day and on weekends. In Virginia, according to the state’s annual report that was issued from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, in 2021, 967 fatalities occurred on the state’s roads. That number is an increase of 15% over the number from the previous year. Also, according to the report, 161 people were injured every day as a result of traffic accidents.
The numbers in the 2021 report are alarmingly high and those statistics lend support to the results of the study that was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which determined that motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death of people between the ages of 5 and 19 years old.
What causes motor vehicle accidents in Virginia?
According to the report, there were many different causes of motor vehicle accidents and many of them could have been prevented. One of the main causes was distracted driving, for example, speaking or texting on a cell phone, reading or being distracted by an object in the vehicle. Those distractions contributed to 80% of all of the accidents and 65% of almost-crashes.
Aside from distracted driving, age is also a contributing factor in car accidents. Drivers who are young and have relatively little experience are at much greater risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. In 2021, 98 people died in accidents on the road and those accidents involved teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 years. Virginia has been educating high school student to combat distracted driving.
Are there other major contributors to motor vehicle accidents?
Another major cause is accidents between pedestrians/bicyclists and motor vehicles. In 2021, 146 people (16 bicyclists and 130 pedestrians) died on the roadways in Virginia. Additionally, 618 bicyclists and 1,686 pedestrians sustained injuries, which shows that accidents on Virginia’s roadways are a significant, ongoing issue.
Although some accidents cannot be prevented, there are many that can. One of the first (and easiest) ways to prevent an accident is by wearing a seatbelt. According to statistics from the Virginia DMV, a person has eight times more of a chance to lose their life if they are not wearing a seatbelt. Another significant way to prevent a road accident is not to drive impaired. When a person drives impaired, their judgment is off and all sorts of tragic situations can occur.
Sound advice from a Virginia motor vehicle accident lawyer
Accidents on America’s roadways are all too common. Virginia certainly has its share. If you have been involved in an accident on the road and you have been injured or a loved one lost their life due to the negligence of another driver, the advice and support of an experienced lawyer may be invaluable to your case. The lawyer can walk you through the process and can help you to make sure that your rights are protected. Then, you can move on and look forward to a bright future.