Living anywhere in the U.S., you’re likely to know at least someone who has been involved in a car crash or someone who knows someone who has. Car crashes happen frequently due to distractions, impairment and simple errors.
In 2020, there were fewer vehicles on the roads, but data collected in Virginia shows that there were still many deaths as a result of collisions. In fact, despite the fact that the total number of crashes fell, there were more fatalities than usual.
Preliminary data from the Department of Motor Vehicles stated that the total number of crashes in the state was down by around 21%. Injuries had also fallen by around 23%. Unfortunately, the severity of some of the collisions means that fatalities did not drop. Instead, they increased by 2% in 2020 compared to the same time in 2019.
What causes more fatalities when fewer vehicles are on the roads?
The crashes could be linked to risk-taking activities. Without as many vehicles on the roads, some drivers are more likely to take part in dangerous activities, whether those included texting and driving, speeding or other acts.
In a review by the American Automobile Association, it was found that deaths caused to unrestrained individuals had climbed by 17%. Speeding-related deaths had also increased. This shows that increasing speeds and a lack of seat-belt use are still defining factors in automobile crashes.
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there were 406 speed-related deaths in 2020, up 16% from 349 the year before. Speeding was a driving force behind many of the deaths because statistics show that cellphone use, teen-driver accidents and motorcycle collisions were all statistically lower than in previous years.
What should you do if you were hit by a speeder?
If you’re hit by someone who speeds, or if you are struck by someone taking part in dangerous acts, you have a right to pursue a claim against them. The rules are there to keep people safe, and they can be held accountable for their actions.