2019 car crash fatality numbers see only slight decline

Arizona drivers may be interested to know that the number of car crash fatalities in the U.S. has been declining but not by much. In 2019, for instance, an estimated 38,800 people died in motor vehicle crashes, which is 2% less than in 2018 and 4% less than in 2017. This was the conclusion of a preliminary study from the National Safety Council.

Use of ADAS may be helping in the decline

While the NSC did not theorize as to what is causing the decline, experts have given several possible reasons. One of them is the increasing availability of advanced driver-assistance systems on new vehicles. ADAS consists of features like:

• Forward and rear collision warning
• Automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive headlights
• Lane departure warning

Studies have shown that these features can help prevent crashes or, at the very least, mitigate their severity. This may partly explain how 2019 also saw a 2% decline in the number of crash victims who needed to go to the hospital. Nevertheless, the number of such individuals came to 4.4 million.

City-wide traffic safety improvements another factor

Another potential factor lies in the improvements in traffic safety many cities have made, especially those that have adopted Vision Zero models for the future. This can include redesigning high-crash areas and lowering the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration.

Legal representation for your injury case

Many car accidents are the fault of one of the parties. Maybe you suffered harm at the hands of a drunk, drugged, drowsy or inattentive driver. You may be eligible for compensation under personal injury law, but you might first want to see an attorney who’s familiar with this field. The attorney may take your case to the negotiation table and seek a settlement that covers your medical bills, lost wages and more.