Traffic Deaths Surged in 2021
2021 was the deadliest year on American roads since 2005. Early reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that nearly 43,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents last year.
How dangerous is driving in California compared to the rest of the country? How can California car accident lawyers help if you were injured or lost a close loved one in an accident caused by somebody else? Keep reading for that information and more.
For a free consultation with California wrongful death lawyers, contact James McKiernan Injury Lawyers today.
2021 Saw 16-Year High in U.S. Traffic Deaths
While official totals are still being calculated, the NHTSA estimates that around 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021, a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2020 and the most deaths in 16 years.
Since people drove fewer miles in 2020 due to the pandemic, it is not extremely shocking that an 11.2% increase in miles driven in 2021 would correspond to a 10.5% increase in fatalities compared to the previous year. The number of yearly traffic deaths had been decreasing prior to the pandemic, however, with only 36,096 traffic fatalities in 2019, which is what makes the jump in deaths in the last couple of years so surprising.
How Dangerous Is Driving in California?
California has over 27 million licensed drivers, significantly more than any other state, so it should not be much of a surprise that California ranked second-highest in 2021 for traffic accident fatalities. Traffic deaths in California jumped to 4,258 fatalities in 2021 from 3,847 in 2020.
How California Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Have you been injured or lost your child, parent, or spouse in an accident caused by another driver? If so, California car accident lawyers like the experts at James McKiernan Lawyers may be able to help you get compensation to cover lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Car Accident Victim Compensation
The at-fault driver’s insurance company is usually responsible for paying accident victims’ medical bills. Those companies profit by paying as little as possible, though, so you may need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side who knows how to help get the insurance companies to pay everything they owe, including:
- Lost wages
- Current and future medical bills
- Physical therapy
- PTSD
- Lost ability to work
- Pain and suffering
- And more
Compensation for a Wrongful Death
If somebody was killed in a car accident that was not their fault, their survivors – child, spouse, parent, or certain others – may be entitled to wrongful death compensation. The various types of damages the loved ones may be able to collect include:
- Medical expenses due to treating the fatal injuries
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Future earning potential and estimated earnings of the deceased
- Financial support provided by the deceased
- Loss of love, guidance, and companionship from the deceased
- Pain and suffering endured between the time of the injury and the time of death
Since wrongful death cases can be complicated, you should contact an experienced California wrongful death lawyer, like the ones at James McKiernan Injury Lawyers, for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Schedule a FREE Consultation With California Wrongful Death Lawyers Today
Whether you suffered injuries in a car crash that was not your fault or you lost a loved one in an accident due to somebody else’s recklessness, schedule a free consultation with the expert California car accident lawyers at James McKiernan today. Our San Luis Obispo office is convenient for residents of Central California.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay us unless we get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a risk-free consultation to pursue financial damages.
