Victims of auto accidents must contend with tricky loopholes that can affect their ability to seek compensation. Texas uses comparative fault rulings that could decrease the victim’s monetary award if they, too, are guilty of a traffic violation. When proving their case, the victims must have medical evidence and witness accounts to substantiate their claims against the accountable driver.
What Happened in 2019
In 2019, the number of auto accident deaths was 3,610, and this is a decrease of 1.15% since 2018. The studies show that these rates equate to 1.26 deaths per 1 million vehicle miles travelled in the state. The records show economic costs for 2019 are around $39 million. While the statistics show a steady increase in the rate of auto accidents, it doesn’t show a significant decrease, and this indicates that the state needs more safety measures to keep motorists safer on the road.
The year in review shows that motorists were involved in 12,897 auto accidents that resulted in serious injuries. With these accidents, studies show that 15,843 people sustained at least one serious injury in the crashes. Among the fatalities that occur in the state, 51% occurred in rural areas away from major highways. This equates to 1,866 deaths in 2019 in rural areas alone.
Traffic Violation-Related Fatalities
More traffic violations have been proven accountable for deaths in Texas. According to the reports, 1,161 people died after they were run off the roadway. Another 600 were killed in crashes within intersections. Among the crashes, there was one auto accident that produced six deaths. The studies show that within the entire year of 2019, there were no days in 2019 in which an auto accident didn’t happen.
The studies show that an accident happening in December resulted in the death of 21 people, and overall, there was 333 death that died in vehicle accidents in December. The percentage of fatalities shows that one person died in Texas every two hours in the state because of an auto accident. Auto accident reports also show that 42% of accident victims were not wearing their seat belts and died because of this failure to follow the law.
DUI and Distracted Driving
The records show that an increase in DUI-related auto accidents happened between 2 and 3 am every night when bars and nightclubs were closing. When approaching a case against a drunk driver, the plaintiff is looking at two separate cases. The auto accident will be presented in a criminal case to prove that the driver was drunk, and they will be involved in a civil case to collect compensation. Victims of drunk driving accidents can learn more about accident cases by contacting an attorney.
Distracted driving statistics show that 377 victims died in fatal accidents. This involves texting and driving or operating smartphones that distract drivers. These are also violations that can produce a serious accident. If the driver survives the accident, they will be held accountable in court.
Auto accidents may continue to decline by a small percentage, but these events lead to serious complications for victims. They face medical expenses and the cost of repairing their vehicles. Victims of auto accidents can learn more about what to do by contacting an attorney now.
