Department of Safety Crash Stats Released

At one point or another, it is likely that everyone will be involved in some sort of motor vehicle accident. Throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, car accidents happen all the time. Of course, some are more serious than others. Unfortunately, many of these crashes do result in one or more fatalities. The United States Department of Transportation recently released updated information on fatal crash statistics.

The research shows that there was a 5.6 percent increase in the number of fatal car accidents between 2015 and 2016. The breakdown of who was the victim of the fatal accident is as follows:

  • Passenger car occupants- 36%
  • Light truck occupants- 28%
  • Motorcyclists- 14%
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists- 18%
  • Large truck and bus occupants- 4%

When assessing the dramatic increase in fatalities, a common question people ask is why there was such an increase. As a whole, there was a tremendous increase in the number of drivers involved in fatal crashes due to an alcohol impairment. While there was only a 3.1 percent increase in alcohol-related fatalities, the number of fatalities for large truck drivers in alcohol-related crashes increased by 50.9 percent. There was also a 23.3 percent increase amongst van drivers.

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who can work to help you recover compensation for your injuries.

The experienced attorneys at Mattleman, Weinroth & Miller, P.C., are well versed in handling a variety of cases within the state of New Jersey. Contact our firm for your free initial consultation and have any questions answered.