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Every day we briefly journey to one of the most dangerous parts of our city; the roads themselves. Although the innovation that is the modern automobile does successfully enhance our quality of life by enabling long distance travel in a speedy manner, by doing so we introduce an element of danger that takes lives and causes harm to thousands of Americans each year. Auto accidents are random and violent encounters that can permanently change someone’s life; even the most careful of drivers are not immune to the dangers of automobile accidents. If you or someone you know was involved in an auto crash, knowing when to call a law firm could ensure that justice is dealt to those who are guilty.
The Dangers of the Road
In 2013 there were 21,132 passenger vehicle occupants that lost their lives in traffic crashes and an additional 2.05 million occupants who were injured. Alcohol is naturally the prime suspect as every day there are an estimated 300,000 drunk drivers on the road with fewer than 4,000 being arrested; in fact the average drunk driver has been intoxicated nearly 80 times before their first arrest. Statistically speaking, someone is injured in a drunk driving crash nearly every two minutes. A new culprit has been introduced when it comes to crashes: distracted driving. The introduction of smartphones means more drivers than ever are distracted by their handheld devices; in 2013 there were 3,154 people who were killed in motor vehicle crashes that involved a distracted driver with around 424,000 people who were injured. Taking every precaution to ensure one’s own safety as well as the safety of others is an obligation enforced by the law; understanding the legal dimensions of auto accidents as well as being able to identify risks on the road could be the difference between life and death itself.
Statistics on Auto Accidents
Motorcycles are enjoyed by many because of the sense of freedom offered on the roads, unfortunately that same freedom leaves a rider unprotected, especially if they do not wear a helmet. In 2013 there were 88,000 motorcycles who were injured in an auto accident; motorcyclists ought to take extra caution on the road, as they are around 26 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile driven and five times as likely to be injured in a crash. Although teens are believed to be notoriously guilty of this, across the country there are around 660,000 drivers who are using a cell phone or manipulating some kind of electronic device while driving. Studies show that engaging in this kind of visual-manual subtask can increase the risk of getting into a crash by 3 times as much. In addition, big-rig truck accidents are some of the most common and tragic on the road; not only are truck accidents more fatal than other collisions, they are more frequent as there are nearly 3,500 truck accidents every year across the United States.
Your Success in Court
For those who are harmed in a crash, many choose to take legal action in order to receive compensation and ensure that justice is dealt so no one else is injured by the guilty party. In order to pursue a personal injury claim, one must comply with the “statutes of limitations” which set time limits on how long one has to file a civil lawsuit; Tennessee for instance has “statute of limitations” that last for one year for personal injury and wrongful death cases. With a professional auto accident attorney, only around four to five percent of personal injury cases in the United States actually go to trial as many individuals and organizations will instead opt for a car accident settlement payout in order for the case to be dropped. With a structured settlement, many are able to cover the cost of the sustained injury and recovery while receiving extra living finances. From motorcycle to truck accidents, if you or someone you know was injured or even killed in a crash, contact an auto accident lawyer to ensure that the guilty parties do not escape the sword of justice.
