Seattle Roads Are Still Dangerous

There was a very slight reduction of 1.8 percent in traffic fatalities in the United States in 2017. And the trend has continued during the first half of 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

  • From January to March, there were 8,070 traffic fatalities, a 2.4 percent reduction from the same period in 2017.
  • From April to June, there were 9,050 traffic fatalities, a 3.6 percent reduction from the same period in 2017.

But why is the death toll on our roads still so high?

One might think that with all the emerging safety technology being installed in new vehicles, and stricter traffic laws, there would be a larger reduction in traffic fatalities.

While this slight decrease is good news, there are still a few factors that are making a big impact on the rate of auto accidents. One is SUV sales, which have skyrocketed over the last decade. While attractive for their large space and hauling capabilities, SUVs are more dangerous on the road than sedans, especially for pedestrians. The number of accidents involving an SUV that resulted in a pedestrian fatality rose by an alarming 81 percent over the course of the last ten years.

Another factor is traffic volume (the number of vehicle miles traveled), which has gone up. In August 2018, the US saw an increase of 1.2 percent in traffic volume from the same time last year.

What to do if you were injured in a crash

Traffic accidents in Seattle are almost always caused by driver negligence. This includes distracted driving, drunk or drug-impaired driving, drowsy driving, speeding, and reckless driving.

The Seattle car accident lawyers at Aaron Engle Law know how devastating a single crash can be. In one split second, your life could be turned upside down. It could take months, and possibly years, to recover – resulting in costly medical procedures and lost wages.

If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident, contact us today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.