Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What if the accident was my fault?”
The number of vehicles on our roadways continues to increase over time. In 2020, there were more than 3,398,000 vehicles registered in North Carolina. With so many cars on the road it is not surprising that accidents happen somewhat frequently. What is concerning is that although there were fewer cars on the road during the pandemic, the number of fatal accidents increased.
The increase occurred not only in North Carolina, but across the country. In addition to fatalities, many people each year are seriously injured in accidents in North Carolina. If you or a loved one was hurt in a car accident, the negligent party is responsible for your damages. An experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney will help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Common Causes of Vehicle Accidents
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) receives and tabulates accident reports from across the state. They analyze the data and provide details on the number of crashes that occured and many other details. Of interest is what causes vehicle accidents. There are various causes of vehicle accidents. The top five causes include:
- Lane departure
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Impairment
- Failure to obey traffic signals
In 2020 there were more than 247,000 accidents reported in North Carolina. These crashes resulted in more than 105,000 injuries and 1,600 fatalities. An accident may have more than one contributing factor.
Lane departure means that a vehicle traveled outside of its designated lane, causing impact with another vehicle. This can occur when changing lanes or merging into traffic. Distracted driving happens when a driver takes his hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, or mind off of driving. Many things can cause distractions, however, texting or cell phone use is one of the common causes. Texting while driving is against the law in North Carolina.
Speeding often means traveling at a rate higher than the posted speed limit. However, speeding can also include driving at a speed that is dangerous for conditions. For instance, if the road or weather conditions are slippery or foggy, drivers must take precautions to drive safely. Impairment could be due to alcohol intoxication or drug use. The failure to obey a traffic signal may result in an accident in an intersection.
Fatal Accident Facts
Fatal car accidents increased in 2020 from the year before. Of the fatal accidents, 25% were related to speeding. About 24% of the fatal crashes were related to alcohol use. Of accident fatalities, about 47% were not wearing seatbelts. North Carolina is in the top ten states with the highest number of traffic accident fatalities. For every 100,000 North Carolina residents, there were approximately 15.88 deaths in 2020. Mecklenburg County was the deadliest county in North Carolina with 125 fatalities. If a loved one died in a fatal car crash, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver. While nothing can bring your loved one back, you can seek justice from the responsible driver.
If you were seriously hurt in a vehicle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video, phone or in-person consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.ncdot.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/explosion-1179170
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