Serious Auto Accident Injury Causes

Motor vehicles are dangerous. Millions of motor vehicle accidents occur every year. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for ages 5 to 34. Vehicle accidents are also in the top ten causes of death for all age groups. In New Hampshire, 135 people died as a result of traffic accidents in 2013. Why Do Serious Auto Accident Injuries Occur? New Hampshire State Police report that 75% of all traffic accident deaths in this state are caused by the following occurrences:

• Driving while intoxicated
• Driving in an unsafe manner (speeding, failing to follow traffic signs, making unsafe lane changes, etc.)
• Distracted driving (including use a phone, navigation system, music system, or other electronic device)
• Failing to use seatbelts

Accidents that do not cause death, but result in serious injury have very similar causes. Drunk Driving In 2012, more than one-third of all traffic deaths were caused by drunk driving. While this number may seem relatively high, it is actually lower than the United States average. In the United States, 38% of all accidents involve alcohol. Alcohol slows and impairs motor functioning and decision-making skills. Those who drink and drive are more likely to act aggressively while driving and make dangerous decisions. Unsafe Driving/Aggressive Driving In a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly half of all American drivers admitted to engaging in unsafe or aggressive driving. Roughly 67% of those surveyed thought their safety was threatened by an unsafe driver in the past year. Distracted Driving Distracted driving is often considered the number one cause of a serious car accidents in the United States. Distracted driving has been an increasing concern with prevalence of smart phone usage and in-dash navigation devices. Roughly 80% of all accidents and 65% of near-accidents involve a distracted driver. Seatbelt Usage in New Hampshire New Hampshire is the only U.S. state that does not have a mandatory seat belt requirement for those over 18 years old. The NHTSA reports that seat belts save more than 13,000 lives each year. Because of this, New Hampshire law enforcement strongly suggests that residents and visitors use their seat belts at all times. New Hampshire consistently has lower rates of seat belt usage than the United States as a whole. For example, in 2013, day time front seat usage in the U.S. was about 87%. In New Hampshire, it was only 73%. However, this percentage is up from 69% in 2012.

Getting Legal Help for Serious Auto Accident Injuries

If you have been involved in an auto accident that resulted in serious injury, then speak with an experienced NH personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Regardless of the cause, we are here for you. Call 603-581-7102 for a free consultation today.