Traffic Fatalities Increase During Pandemic

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States, causing 3 million injuries and killing over 35,000 people per year.

Even though Americans drove less in 2020 due to the pandemic, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) reports show that an estimated 38,680 people were tragically killed in motor vehicle accidents — the largest number of fatalities since 2007. This represents an increase of 7.2% as compared to the 36,096 fatalities reported in 2019.

Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2020 decreased by about 430.2 billion miles, a 13.2% decrease. The fatality rate for 2020 was 1.37 fatalities per 100 million VMT, up from 1.11 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2019. NHTSA’s analysis shows that the main behaviors that drove this increase include: impaired driving, speeding and failure to wear a seat belt.

Preliminary finding show that traffic fatalities rose in most major categories over 2019:

• Passenger vehicle occupants (23,395, up 5%)
• Pedestrians (6,205, no change from 2019)
• Motorcyclists (5,015, up 9%)
• Pedalcyclists (people on bikes) (846, up 5%)

Crash factors and demographics reviewed by NHTSA that showed the largest increases in 2020 as compared to 2019 included:

• Occupant ejection (up 20%)
• Uunrestrained occupants of passenger vehicles (up 15%)
• Speed-related crashes (up 11%)
• On urban interstates (up 15%)
• On urban local/collector roads (up 12%)
• On rural local/collector roads (up 11%)
• During nighttime (up 11%)
• During the weekend (up 9%)
• In rollover crashes (up 9%)
• In single-vehicle crashes (up 9%)
• In alcohol involved crashes (up 9%)

Among other notable truck wreck cases, our Texas Car Wreck Attorneys recovered $8,750,000 from a large trucking company which was responsible for the deaths of a 67-year-old and a 19-year-old who were from Mexico.

If you were injured in a car accident or a loved one was tragically killed by a negligent trucker, distracted driver, or drunk driver it is important that you contact the experienced Texas Car Accident Attorneys who can advise you of your rights and help you seek the financial compensation you may deserve.

If You Were Injured In A Car Wreck Call the Texas Car Accident Attorneys of Miller Weisbrod, Attorneys At Law at 214.987.0005

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Head-On Collision & Crush Injuries

Head-on collisions are caused when a driver crosses the center dividing line for any reason. The driver could have been trying to pass another vehicle on a two-lane road or could have been driving negligently and moved to the lane of traffic coming from the opposite side. Statistics collected by the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) brings out the following facts:

• 75 percent of all head-on collisions occur on rural roads.
• Head-on collisions happen most frequently on two-lane roads.
• Of the 7,000 reported head-on collisions on two-lane roads.
  Only 4.2% were caused when a driver was trying to pass another vehicle.
• Failure in negotiating a curve on the road is a cause of 23 percent of fatal head-on collisions.

The FARS data reveals that many head-on collisions result from ‘unintentional maneuvers’ of a driver. These include distracted driving, not following the speed limit, negotiating a curve at a very fast speed, and falling asleep while at the wheel. Driving under the influence is the other major cause of head-on collisions.

In addition to expensive medical bills, a victim of a Head-on collision crush injury may suffer additional financial losses due to the inability to continue working.

A crush injury occurs when two heavy objects compress or squeeze a body part. For example, a passenger’s legs may get squeezed under the dashboard in a head-on collision. A crush injury may damage the muscles, obstruct or completely stop blood flow to an organ, and may even cause tissue death. Some common symptoms of crush injuries include heavy bleeding, bone fractures, bruising, and loss of consciousness.

Crush Injury
Crush injuries are common in head-on car crashes. The vehicles involved in such an accident often are completely damaged, with the seats, steering wheel, dashboard, and other parts getting crushed. In many cases, the passengers inside the car suffer severe injuries. Immediate medical help is required in such situations.

A common injury sustained in a head-on collision is a crushed leg injury. A crushed leg injury occurs when the leg of the victim gets trapped under a heavy object or gets squeezed between two heavy objects. The consequences could be devastating and may even cause loss of the limb. A crushed leg injury may cause lacerations, major fractures, vascular damage, excessive bleeding, and bruising.

Consequences of a Crush Injury
Not all crush injuries are fatal. In case of mild crush injuries, necessary first aid treatment may suffice. However, some crush injuries cause serious medical complications and may even cause death. In addition to severe pain, a victim may develop a serious infection in the injured limb.

There is also the risk of serious bone fractures, and in some cases, the doctor may recommend an immediate surgery. In extreme cases, it may be required to amputate the damaged leg, while some crush injuries may trigger long-term complications, such as chronic pain, neurological and psychological disorders. Another severe outcome of a crush injury could be rhabdomyolysis, a medical condition that causes rapid destruction of skeletal muscles due to extensive muscle damage.

How to Deal with the Consequences of a Crush Injury
Crush injuries require immediate treatment. In most cases, the victim needs to be hospitalized and undergo a surgery. In some cases, long-term treatment will be required. Some symptoms may arise at a later stage and thus the patient needs to watch out for any long-term complications under the guidance of an experienced doctor.

Experience in a Full Range of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
At Miller Weisbrod, our team of attorneys can offer you the sound advice and concerted legal action you need in order to pursue financial justice and real recover after a serious personal injury or the loss of a loved one. From our office in Dallas, we serve clients nationwide.

We have substantial experience and a proven record of success in obtaining multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases nationwide.

Motor vehicle accidents include:
• Car accidents
• Truck wrecks
• Motorcycle accidents
• ATV accidents
• Bus crashes
• Boating accidents

Contact Us
To learn more about your rights and legal options in seeking maximum financial recovery after a serious or fatal head-on collision, please call our Dallas office at 214.987.0005 to discuss your rights and legal options with an experienced trial lawyer.

We offer free initial consultations to potential clients nationwide. If you are calling from outside the DFW Metroplex, please use our toll-free line at 888.987.0005.

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Causes of Traffic Collisions

The majority of people are going to be involved in traffic accident at least once in their lifetime.

Traffic collisions are so common that they account for the leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. The majority of those accidents, driver’s negligence or a driver’s error is to blame for a life-altering traffic accident. Those errors and negligence can manifest in a number of ways; which is why our team of personal injury lawyers would like to discuss a few of the leading causes of fatal and injurious traffic accidents.

DRUNK DRIVING
The causes of car accidents vary, but drunk or drugged driving remains a major issue all across the country and the cause of many tragedies. Data from the Department of Public Safety shows that impaired driving accounted for 31 percent of fatal traffic accidents. Even though impaired driving has been on the decline nationwide, this reckless driving habit still accounts for a third of deadly traffic accidents and leaves tens of thousands suffering.

SPEEDING
Everyone is always in a hurry these days, so it should be no surprise that speeding is another leading cause of deadly traffic accidents. Speed limits may be annoyances to time-strapped motorists, but they are actually developed with safety in mind. A motorist who is speeding could easily lose control of their vehicle, rear-end another motorist or cause an accident in a number of other ways. Speed also typically causes the resulting injuries to be more severe or deadly.

DISTRACTED DRIVING
Distraction is another leading cause of traffic accidents in the United States. According to the Department of Public Safety, distracted driving accounted for 9 percent of car accidents. Now that a majority of motorists have smart phones and use them behind the wheel, distracted driving continues to be a major safety hazard on the road. Cell phones are not solely to blame for distracted driving accidents, even activities like talking to a passenger, reaching for a cup of coffee or changing the volume on the stereo can lead to a tragic car accident.

Any one of these unsafe driving habits can lead to an accident and life-changing injuries for all parties involved. If you have been injured in accident caused by the negligent behavior of a motorist, speak with a personal injury lawyer and set up a case evaluation to see what moves you need to make next. You may be eligible for compensation for your medical expenses, emotional distress and any other accident-related expenses you incur.

Those who are injured in a traffic accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver can contact the lawyers of Miller Weisbrod about their legal options. We offer sound legal advice, experienced representation and dedicated advocacy to victims of car accidents and their families.

For more information, we invite you to contact our offices in Dallas at 214.987.0005 to schedule a free initial consultation with our experienced personal injury trial lawyers. If you are calling from outside the DFW Metroplex, please call us toll free at 888.987.0005. You may also contact us by e-mail now for prompt attention or to request an appointment.

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"Do's" of Being in a Car Accident

Injured in a Car Accident — What You Should Do?
Over 6 million car accidents take place in the U.S. each year. 1 of every 3 car accidents involves injury to at least one of the persons involved. If you were recently one of those statistics, contact an experienced accident attorney at Miller Weisbrod to determine if you are entitled to be compensated for the injuries you have suffered.

Every car accident is unique, yet there are some common tips that any car accident victim can follow to ensure the situation is resolved as quickly as possible.

Seek proper medical attention:
Unquestionably, the health and safety of you and your loved ones should be your top priority. Seek medical treatment for any injuries sustained as soon as possible.

Avoid discussing the accident and save your apologies:
You were just involved in a traumatic event and might not be thinking clearly — limit your discussions to avoid admitting liability. Discuss the accident with the police and your insurance agent only.

Have someone obtain vital information:
Get the names, insurance information, phone numbers and addresses of everyone involved in the accident.

Have someone photograph the scene:
Many insurers recommend obtaining photos of the accident scene to avoid discrepancies and to obtain accurate evidence.

Have someone take notes:
Detailing the nature of your injuries, the damage to your property and anything you find unusual could be very beneficial down the road.

Do not accept initial insurance offers:
Insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind. They want your case to go away as quickly and quietly as possible, and typically undervalue the damages accident victims sustained.

Contact an experienced car accident lawyer:
Speak to a knowledgeable car accident attorney to discuss your case, learn your options and determine if you are entitled to compensation.

If you or your loved one were injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your injuries.

To help determine whether you may be able to file a claim against the other driver, contact the car accident lawyers of Miller Weisbrod to discuss your accident.

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Dallas Car Accident Lawyers

2 children dead in car crash with an SUV
Two children were killed in a car wreck in South Dallas recently, after the family’s vehicle was hit by an SUV. Reports say that the SUV was traveling at approximately 100 mph on a rain soaked highway when the crash occurred. With inclement weather upon us, it is even more important to drive safe this holiday season.

Call Miller Weisbrod at 888.987.0005 for help after a motor vehicle accident injury. We work diligently to protect our clients' rights and advocate their interests in cases where serious or catastrophic injury or death has resulted from any kind of motor vehicle accident.

The Dangers of Speeding in Inclement Weather
Weather events like heavy precipitation can impact the capabilities of drivers as well as the performance of vehicles while on the road. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 480,000 people are injured and more than 6,000 are killed each year in traffic accidents that occur in adverse weather. A majority of weather-related crashes are said to occur during rainfall and on wet ground.

Even attempting to drive the posted speed limit on wet roads isn’t always a safe choice because the slick surface may pose problems in the event that a driver has to brake suddenly. The slower a vehicle is traveling, the easier it is for the driver to maintain control throughout their commute; therefore, it is important to drive at a controllable speed in rainy weather.

Drivers should take the following considerations when traveling in inclement weather:
•   It takes longer to brake when driving on roads that are slippery:
Tires perform differently on slippery road surfaces than dry ones because the wet road can affect their traction.

•   Not ensuring that one’s vehicle is prepared for driving in certain weather conditions is risky: Making sure tires are properly inflated, windshield wipers are functioning properly, and other vehicle components are in working order is important for reducing the risk of an accident in bad weather.

•   Unnecessary lane changes on slippery roads can be hazardous:
Changing lanes and trying to pass others must be done with extreme caution when driving in rainy weather because it can be difficult to see what’s ahead from certain distances to determine whether one is placing themselves in harm’s way.

•   Driving distractions are especially dangerous in inclement weather:
Cell phone use and other dangerous driving distractions are particularly risky when bad weather is present. Because factors such as rain can obstruct one’s view of what is ahead, not paying attention to the road for even a second can result in serious consequences.

•   There are steps that can be taken to prevent hydroplaning:
 Hydroplaning can happen when a vehicle is traveling on a slick surface. Drivers can reduce their chance of hydroplaning; however, by taking steps such as avoiding standing water puddles when possible, making sure tires are properly inflated, and ensuring that their speed matches the weather condition they are in.

•   Rules for commercial vehicles:
 The Texas Commercial Vehicle License Manual recommends that drivers of 18-wheelers reduce their speed by at least 1/3 in wet weather conditions.  This is due to the proclivity of tractor-trailers to jack knife (especially when lightly loaded or unloaded) as well as the increased stopping distance of these heavy duty trucks.

Those who are injured in a traffic accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver in bad weather conditions can contact the lawyers of Miller Weisbrod about their legal options. We offer sound legal advice, experienced representation and dedicated advocacy to victims of auto defects and their families.

For more information, we invite you to contact our offices in Dallas at 214.987.0005 to schedule a free initial consultation with our experienced personal injury trial lawyers. If you are calling from outside the DFW Metroplex, please call us toll free at 888.987.0005. You may also contact us by e-mail now for prompt attention or to request an appointment.

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