Traffic Deaths Increased Nearly Eight Percent in 2015

ambulance leaving accident There was an eight-percent increase in traffic deaths in 2015, which is the largest annual increase in auto fatalities in 50 years, according to preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Approximately 35,200 people died in car accidents last year compared to 32,675 in 2014, while the most significant increase came for bicycle and pedestrian accidents. Early estimates reveal that nine of 10 U.S. regions experienced more traffic fatalities in 2015.

One explanation for the increase is that gas prices have fallen, so more Americans are out on the road, according to NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind. However, 94 percent of collisions can be traced to human error, so there needs to be a focus on improving human behavior and promoting enhanced vehicle technology that helps to prevent crashes, says Rosekind.

NHTSA Working to Reduce Traffic Deaths

The NHTSA is working on new tools to prevent behaviors that can cause traffic fatalities, including impaired driving, distracted driving and not using seatbelts, particularly for children. The NHTSA is also working on initiatives to prevent accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians.

When the NHTSA finalizes the data on traffic fatalities, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NHTSA will be asking local and state officials, safety partners, advocacy groups, scientists and technology experts to help find data-driven solutions to reduce traffic fatalities and improve auto safety.

The Federal Highway Administration and the NHTSA are also working to implement safety performance measures, which would mandate that states and metropolitan areas set goals for reducing traffic fatalities.

If you have been seriously injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Harrisburg auto accident attorneys at Schmidt Kramer today for your free consultation. We have proudly helped many car accident victims secure maximum compensation for their injuries.

Call us today at (717) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Review.

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Yesterday a Judge in Union County (Lewisburg, PA) awarded a couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania, over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting.You might ask yourself, how does a turkey hunting accident end up with that type of verdict? In order to understand the verdict you would have to know our clients. They are good people who had their life wrecked. Plus, you would have to know the defendant, who should not have been hunting with a gun because he was prohibited after a previous criminal conviction.It is a good verdict, because the Judge was able to do two things with his decision. First, he communicated to two very good people that their losses were something that those of us on the outside could appreciate and value. Mike Hobbins (our client) is a 51 year old guy who lost his sight because a convicted felon --who should not have even possessed a gun-- went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger. The Judge accepted the financial loss Mr. Hobbins' suffered, but listened closely to the evidence of less tangible losses. When Mike broke down on the stand, because his daughter would end up walking him down the aisle at her wedding, as opposed to how it was supposed to go, the Judge was listening. When Mike could not keep it together, because of how emasculating it was for him not to be able to provide financially for his family, the Judge was listening. It was facts like these that the Judge cited to support the $2,000,000 award for non-economic damages. Second, the Judge wanted to send a message. Union County is a hunting county. Many of the residents hunt there, and people from outside the area come to Union County to hunt. It was my impression, from the Judge's statements as he rendered his decision, that he wanted to send a message to the people in Union County to protect them in their sport. The rules in place to restrict people convicted of crimes not to have a gun are not to be broken. Hunting is serious and you have to identify your target before you shoot. When you turn your back on the rules that are set to provide safety in a sport, you risk being an example. Here, the $1,000,000 punitive damage award sends that message loud and clear.When it really comes down to brass tacks, the right action was taken against a Defendant who may never truly appreciate what kind of impact his reckless choices caused.At Schmidt Kramer, we are injury lawyers. That means we work with people who were hurt in car accidents, who were hurt by the neglect of nursing homes, or those that were seriously injured because of the reckless, thoughtless acts of others. If you or a loved one have been injured in Pennsylvania, we may be able to help. While the verdict yesterday is not one that is representative of every case we do, it does show that serious and dedicated representation can bring good results.Joe ChapmanJanuary 18, 2013
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Traffic Fatalities Rose Eight Percent in 2015

NHTSA Working to Reduce Traffic Deaths