Statistics recently published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency demonstrate a remarkable 25 per million increase in traffic fatalities in the first nine months of 2020 compared to 2019. Over those comparable periods 28,190 lives were lost in 2020 compared to 26,941 in 2019.
These are discouraging numbers considering that during the months of March and April 2020 when many states were on a hard lock down travel decreased by approximately 355.5 billion miles, a 14.5-percent decrease. The statistics demonstrate that most of the fatality increase occurred when soft re-openings took effect from May to September, but the agency has yet to speculate as to the reasons for the increase year over year.
One consideration might be that the gradual reopening presents drivers with less traffic and thus higher rates of speed. Regardless, the statistics bear out that our roadways present the greatest statistical chance of injury or death apart from medical illness.
Since 1971 Rheingold, Guiffra, Ruffo, and Plotkin has been representing victims of car accidents . Our attorneys have recovered some of the highest awards for traffic accident cases and have been recognized as leaders nationwide in representation of car accident victims by the Jury Verdict Reporter, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Expertise.com , Avvo, Martindale Hubbell and just about every other rating organization.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by injury or death as a result of a negligent driver please contact us for a free consultation .
