When a person heads out on the road in Ohio and across the country, there is a risk that there will be a car accident. This is an unavoidable fact and it can occur for a number of reasons. Statistical analysts attempt to record the number of accidents and determine how and why they happen. It is a growing concern in 2015 that the numbers show that this year will be the worst year for accidents with injuries and deaths since 2007.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there have been almost 19,000 fatalities in car accidents between January and June this year. That is a rise of 14 percent from the same time period in 2014. In addition, the number of people injured rose along with the expenses that accompanied the crashes. Those who were deemed to have suffered a serious injury numbered close to 2.3 million. Serious injuries were defined by the NSC as those that made it necessary to seek medical attention. These were increased by 30 percent compared to the same time period in the previous year.
The expenses with these accidents rose commensurately at 24 percent with costs at approximately $152 billion. The NSC believes that the increase was sparked by several issues. The reduction in the price of gas led to more people driving and doing so for longer distances. The economy being better also adds to the number of people on the road as they have more income and opportunities to travel. It is especially worrisome to researchers that the statistics were compiled before the summer months - the time when there are more people likely to travel greater distances by vehicle.
Other possible factors in the number of accidents include driving while under the influence and driving while distracted. The increase in the number of ways a person can use his or her phone for email, social media and to gather information is a foundation for constant checking the device and not paying attention to the road.
With these numbers, drivers and passengers need to be cognizant of safety while driving and of the consequences of an auto accident such as medical costs, lost time at work and even the death of a loved one.
Source: Newsweek, "U.S. Traffic Deaths, Injuries and Related Costs Up in 2015," Stav Ziv, Accessed on Sept. 6, 2015
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