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Types of Deadly Automobile Accidents
Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland
If you have lost a loved one in an automobile accident, your loss is unique. There is no one like the person you lost. You need time to work through your loss, but unfortunately, you often are not given that time. Instead, you are bombarded with bills related to your loved one's injury and death, on top of those you already have on a daily basis. It can be hard to go back to work after your loss, and it can be even harder to pay your bills when the one you lost was also the main breadwinner in your home.
After you have lost a loved one in a deadly automobile accident, you need the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve to pay bills and have the personal time you need for grieving. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. we have helped thousands of people like you in Washington, D.C.; Virginia, and Maryland. Please call or email us today for a free consultation to learn how we can help you.
Numbers of Deadly Accidents
Every year, there are hundreds of deadly automobile accidents in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. In 2008, there were 824 automobile accident fatalities in Virginia, 591 in Maryland, and 34 in Washington, D.C. These numbers are significantly down from 2007. Although Maryland saw a four percent decline in automobile accident deaths, Virginia saw a decline of 20% and Washington, D.C. saw a decline of 23% from 2007-2008.
In fact 2008 saw the lowest number of traffic deaths in the United States since 1961. The frequency of traffic accident deaths has long been in decline, and when that combined with people driving less due to high gas prices and the economic downturn, it created the near-record low numbers.
Who Is Killed in Deadly Accidents
Most people killed in automobile accidents are the occupants of the automobiles. Slightly more than half of those vehicle occupants killed in deadly automobile accidents are in passenger cars. In Maryland and Virginia, about 27% and 30%, respectively, are killed in light trucks (including pickups and SUVs). Maryland has a much higher percentage of motorcycle accident fatalities, nearly 20%, while in Virginia, it is lower, less than 12%. In Washington, D.C., motorcycle accident deaths account for about a third of all vehicle occupant deaths.
Pedestrians are also often killed in automobile accidents. Vehicle-pedestrian accidents account for nearly a third of all automobile accident deaths in Washington, D.C., but overall Maryland is a more dangerous place for pedestrians. Maryland has the sixth highest rate of per capita pedestrian fatalities. Virginia has a much lower rate of pedestrian deaths. With pedestrian deaths less than ten percent of total traffic deaths, Virginia has the 18th lowest rate of pedestrian fatalities.
Accidents that Kill
The majority of fatal automobile accidents are single-vehicle accidents. Overall, about 60% of people that die in automobile accidents in the United States are killed in single-vehicle accidents. That figure is a little lower for Maryland, a little higher in Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
More people die in automobile accidents in rural areas than in urban areas. In rural areas, most people die on roads where the posted speed limit is 45 mph or higher. In urban areas, most people die where the speed limit is 50 mph or less.
Most fatal accidents (nearly 70%) occur when a car is traveling straight. The next most common maneuver for fatal accidents is when a car is negotiating a curve in the road (15%), followed by left turns (6%). Most fatal crashes are the result of hitting another moving vehicle, and most fatal collisions are the result of a front-end collision, whether with another vehicle, a fixed object, or a non-motorist. Being struck by another car on the side of the vehicle is also very dangerous. Light trucks like SUVs and pickups have more than double the frequency of non-collision, single-vehicle fatalities due to the increased possibility of deadly rollover accidents.
Fires are relatively infrequent in fatal crashes, occurring less than 3% of the time. Fires are more than twice as likely in fatal truck accidents.
At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C., we understand the complexity of fatal automobile accident lawsuits. We have helped thousands of car accident victims and their families, and are ready to help you. Please contact us today to learn more.
