It is unimaginable that during the pandemic, when there are fewer vehicles on the road, the number of car accidents resulting in major injuries and fatalities has increased. Cyclists and pedestrians were also victims of accidents involving motor vehicles. According to Pew, this coincided with an increase in motorists speeding, being distracted, or driving while impaired even if traffic decreased by 16.5 percent. This situation increases the need for the services of a personal injury attorney to ensure that the victims get compensated properly for medical bills and damages.
Car Crashes
Data from the National Safety Council (NSC) shows that 42,060 people were killed in car accidents in 2020, an increase from 39,107 fatalities in 2019 and the largest spike in almost a century. Ironically, car mileage decreased by 13 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.
From January to June 2021, fatalities from motor vehicle accidents further increased by 16 percent compared to the first half of 2020. If the same rate continues up to the end of 2021, the number of deaths will be at the highest from 2006.
Certain states like Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas have motor accident fatality rates that are above average. In 2020, the number of fatalities increased by seven percent over the previous year. In the first quarter of 2021 alone, the number of fatalities already increased by 11 percent.
The number of injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents and needing medical consultation in the first six months of 2021 was 2.445 million. The total cost of fatalities, injuries, and property damage from motor vehicle accidents from January to June 2021 is estimated to be $241.9 billion.
Bicycle Accidents
During the pandemic, more people used bicycles because the public movement was limited to a smaller radius from home. Cycling was also used as a form of exercise because gyms were closed. There was a significant increase in the sale of bicycles.
Unfortunately, there was also a considerable number of accidents involving bicycles. Fatalities from bicycle accidents numbered 675 in 2020, with more than a fourth from hit-and-run incidents involving motor vehicles. The highest number of fatalities occurred in July 2020, with 84 people. It was a warm month; hence, more cyclists were on the roads. California had the highest number of fatalities at 118 people. There were 90 fatalities in Florida, 44 in New York, 44 in Texas, and 34 in Louisiana.
Pedestrian Fatalities
More people are also walking during the pandemic. Pew reports that from January to June 2020, federal data from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that almost 3,000 pedestrians died in road accidents. The number of pedestrian fatalities increased by 20 percent compared to the same period in the previous year. More than half or 54 percent of the deaths occurred in Texas, North Carolina, New York, Georgia, Florida, California, and Arizona.
Road Design and Safety Measures
Vox points out that there is a basic flaw in the design of roads in the U.S. because these are too wide and specifically engineered for driving speed. Having low traffic, such as in the pandemic, further enables drivers to increase their speed. Also, most roads that are shared by motor vehicles with cyclists and pedestrians allow speeds of more than 30 to 40 miles per hour and have many turns and stopping points. These create many conditions for accidents.
The speed of a motor vehicle as it hits a cyclist, or a pedestrian determines the extent of injuries or death. There is a 10 percent risk of death for a pedestrian hit by a vehicle at 23 miles per hour, a 25 percent risk of death at 32 miles per hour, and a 75 percent risk of death at 50 miles per hour.
It is necessary to implement measures to slow down drivers. This includes narrowing down lanes, installing speed bumps, and replacing traditional intersections with roundabouts. Bike lanes and road shoulders must also be added.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reports that eight states this year passed laws to protect cyclists. This brings the number of states with safe passing laws to 45. The law requires motorists to provide a minimum of three feet distance when passing cyclists. This will prevent sideswiping or hitting a cyclist from behind.
Stay Alert and Keep Safe
When leaving the house, whether as a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorist, it is now important to not only observe safety protocols against Covid 19 but to also be alert and vigilant against possible road accidents. If you are a driver, practice defensive driving. If you are a cyclist, observe the precautions to ensure that motorists see you. If you are a pedestrian, do not assume that all drivers give way to pedestrians. Be proactive in keeping yourself safe at all times.
