Every year in the United States, between 35,000 and 40,000 people die in traffic accidents. Many more are injured. Sometimes it feels like society has just accepted that driving is inherently dangerous.
But does it have to be this way? Or can we reduce the risks?
The danger will likely always exist
It is likely that there will always be some danger when driving, simply because the human body cannot withstand the forces of a crash at such speeds. If anything, speeds are likely to increase. Unless there are zero accidents, risk will be part of the equation.
What we can do is to reduce those risks further. For instance, more than one out of four deadly accidents happens because of drunk driving.
Steps to eliminate this practice can save lives. Another example is the new technology being put in to modern vehicles, such as lane departure warning systems and backup cameras. These won’t prevent all accidents, but they can help make drivers more aware. Some systems, like automatic braking, can compensate for poor driving by letting the car act on its own.
Will we ever get to zero accidents, though? That is statistically unlikely. Even autonomous cars, which could cut accidents drastically, probably won’t completely eliminate them.
What are your options after an accident?
As long as there is a level of risk, you need to know what options you have if you’ve been injured in a crash caused by another driver. You may be able to seek compensation to cover medical bills and other costs. An experienced attorney can help you.