National Surge in Fatal Car Crashes

Posted Friday, February 18, 2022 by Chris Thayer

It is no secret that at the beginning of the pandemic there was a significant increase in speeding, driving under the influence, and other traffic violations. The U.S. Department of Transportation has released new statistics which show that this increase has not slowed or self-corrected despite it being nearly two years since it began. In fact, the new statistics indicate an approximately 19% increase in fatal car accidents between the first half of 2020 and 2021. Nearly half of these fatal car accidents involve speeding as a contributing factor. This is supported by the fact that speeding and other traffic offenses, such as driving without a seat belt, have also continued to increase.

*A Record-Breaking Increase in Car Accidents *The increase captured by the statistics is the largest increase in the United States since 2006. In fact, over 20,000 Americans died in car accidents in the first half of 2021 alone. This has prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to declare a crisis. The Department has begun implementing a plan to increase highway safety by building safer roads, reducing speed limits, and encouraging more stringent enforcement of speed limits among state troopers, however, this does not do anything to help those who have already been affected. For victims of negligent drivers, such as those who were speeding, the best way to get support is likely by bringing a personal injury lawsuit.

*Suing for Washington State Car Accidents *Washington State is no exception to the national increase in speeding and car accidents, and many residents are struggling to recover from the financial damage that these car accidents can have. If you are one of them, it is important to know that you have options. Your ability to bring a personal injury claim is even stronger if the other driver was speeding, as speeding is against the law, and therefore results in a presumption of negligence. Whereas in most personal injury cases you have to establish that the other driver was negligent and that their negligence caused your injury, if it has already been established that they were speeding or otherwise breaking the law (such as by driving distracted or under the influence), those two elements will be presumed and you will only have to establish that you were injured in order to recover. As you can imagine, this significantly streamlines the recovery process and increases your chances of successfully receiving a settlement. If you have been involved in a car accident that was not your fault and have suffered injuries and financial harm as a result, you have standing to bring a personal injury lawsuit, and a Seattle attorney can help.

Contact the *Pivotal Law Group in Seattle, Washington *If you or a loved one have been injured in a Washington State car accident because another driver was speeding or driving negligently, our experienced personal injury lawyers are ready to make sure that the negligent driver is held accountable and that you get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. Call the Pivotal Law Group today to schedule a consultation.