Louisiana motorists may be part of the reason why traffic fatalities rose for the first six months of 2015. The National Safety Council says nationwide traffic fatalities were up 14 percent over the same time period in 2014. Traffic fatalities in Louisiana were up, with 330 people dying on the state’s roads between January and June 2015 compared to 275 in the first six months of 2014.
As it turned out, the number of fatal car crashes for the entire 12 months of 2015 was the highest since 2008. In addition, 2015 saw the highest percentage increase in such fatalities in five decades.
Lower gas prices and motorists driving more miles are contributing factors in the increase in car accidents, the NSC says. Distracted drivers also contribute to the increase in injuries and deaths. Not only are drivers texting on their cellphones, they may also be checking their Facebook or Twitter accounts and taking selfies as they drive down the road. Motorists who text and drive increase their chances of being in car accidents eight times. Even talking on a hands-free device is not safe.
Anyone who has ever been in a car collision knows how much their life changes. Even fender benders can result in expensive medical bills to treat injuries. Plus, victims may lose time from work, costing them additional money. When such an accident has been caused by a distracted, impaired or otherwise negligent driver, an injured victim may want the advice of an attorney when determining how to proceed. In some cases it could be advisable to file a personal injury lawsuit against the motorist that would seek compensation for the losses that have been sustained.
Source: National Safety Council, ” “Motor Vehicle Fatality Estimates”,” accessed on June 5, 2016
