People get hurt or killed in car accidents and crashes involving other vehicles every year. And it’s a problem everywhere.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.19 million people are killed in road traffic crashes each year. In the United States, there were an estimated 42,795 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2022. In Nebraska, there have been 232 traffic fatalities on average between 2017 and 2021.
Car accidents remain a pervasive problem
Across the globe, between 20 and 50 million suffer serious but non-fatal injuries each year. These road traffic injuries also have a significant financial burden on victims, their families, and even their countries.
There are the costs of medical treatment. There is lost productivity of people who have been killed or left disabled. Family members may need to take time off from work to care for the injured. According to WHO, accidents typically cost most countries about 3% of their gross domestic product.
WHO has identified 8 factors that affect the number of accidents and the likelihood of injuries, including:
Speeding
- Driving too fast increases the risk of a crash and the severity of the injuries victims suffer.
- A 1% increase in mean speed leads to a 4% increase in the risk of a fatal crash and a 3% increase in the risk of a serious crash.
- Increasing speed from 50 km/h to 65 km/h (roughly 31 mph to 40 mph) increases the risk of fatalities for pedestrians 4.5 times.
- The risk of fatal injuries in side impact car accidents is 85% at speeds of 65 km/h (roughly 40 mph).
Driving under the influence
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increases the risk of an accident that leaves victims with serious and sometimes fatal injuries.
- When a driver uses alcohol, the risk of a crash rises significantly at a BAC of .04 and above.
- When a driver uses drugs, the increased risk will vary depending on the type of drug used. For example, when a driver uses amphetamines, there is 5 times the risk.
Non-use of motorcycle helmets, seatbelts, and child restraints
- Using motorcycle helmets properly can reduce the risk of death by more than 6 times and reduce the risk of brain injury by up to 74%.
- The use of a seat belt can reduce the risk of a fatal injury by up to 50%.
- The use of child restraints can reduce fatal injuries among infants by 71%.
Distracted driving
- Drivers who are using their phones are about 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash than those who aren’t using their phones.
- Distracted driving involving the use of phones results in slower reaction time, making it difficult to stay in the lane and maintain a safe following distance.
- Hands-free phones don’t offer much more safety than hand-held phones.
- Texting while driving greatly increases the risk of a crash.
Unsafe road infrastructure
The safety of roads is directly related to their design. Roads should be planned with the safety of all types of road users in mind – including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Features such as sidewalks, bike lanes, designated crossing points, and traffic calming measures can play a significant role in minimizing the risk of injury.
Unsafe vehicles
There are many UN regulations on vehicle safety that could help save lives if applied to manufacturers in individual countries. These include requirements to meet front and side impact regulations, including electronic stability control and equipping all vehicles with airbags and seat belts.
Inadequate post-crash care
The longer it takes to detect and administer care to individuals involved in a traffic accident, the more severe their injuries are likely to become. Timely care following an accident is extremely important. Even small delays can make a difference between survival and fatality. There needs to be prompt access to prehospital care and training to improve the quality of both prehospital and hospital care.
Inadequate law enforcement of traffic laws
Failure to enforce laws related to drunk driving, seatbelt use, speed limits, helmet use, and child restraint use undermines their potential to reduce fatalities and injuries. If laws aren’t enforced, they are less likely to be followed. Federal, state, and local laws also need to be updated as needed.
If you’ve been hurt, call an experienced Omaha car accident attorney
Negligent drivers are typically responsible for causing car accidents. These include drivers who were speeding, texting, driving under the influence, or acting aggressively. If you were hurt in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you deserve financial compensation.
But the legal process can be complicated. Negligent drivers deny responsibility and won’t admit they did anything wrong. Insurance companies will try to limit your compensation by disputing the extent of your injuries, suggesting you were partially at fault, or making a lowball settlement offer that falls far short of covering all of your damages.
Since our founding in 2007, Ausman Law Firm, P.C., L.L.O. has been fighting insurance companies to help the injured recover the financial compensation they deserve. Our car accident lawyers build strong cases built on facts. We take on the insurance companies and are dedicated to helping our clients get the best possible outcome.
If you were hurt in a car accident in Omaha, learn more about how we can help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.