San Jose, CA Fatal Car Accident Attorney
Fatal car accidents continue to be a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the fatality rate is about 31,000 per year. In 2010 alone, the police reported 5.4 million crashes and about two million people harmed due to those wrecks. If this has happened to your family, you can consult a fatal car accident attorney to assert your rights.
Accident Fatalities
Drivers represent more than half of the fatalities and almost half of the injuries. Passengers are also a high percentage, but motorcyclists, pedestrian and cyclists also die in statistically high numbers. All of this tragedy leaves sad families and frightened survivors in its wake. Why do these accidents happen? What is being done to reduce death and injury rates?
Driving Under the Influence Of a Phone?
Human error and speed are common culprits, and these mistakes are compounded by DWI or phone use. Drunk or drugged driving causes 28 percent of all crashes. Handheld device use, particularly texting, is actually catching up with DUIs. In fact, the U.S. DOT reports that texting now causes 23 percent of all single and multi-car collisions. In 2010, more than 3,000 deaths were associated with texting.
Automotive Safety
For years, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the NHTSA, and related government agencies have been studying the problem, performing safety examinations on new vehicles, and looking for solutions. Still, some safety problems slip through the cracks such as the high roll-over rate for many SUVs. Unforeseen, but preventable problems result in government recalls, but many automotive flaws aren’t caught until they have caused injuries and death.
In addition, automakers have added systems to make cars more automated or, at least, more surefooted with traction control and other electronic aids. Unfortunately, these systems often add tens of thousands to the cost of a new vehicle, and it isn’t possible to upgrade existing vehicles. In other words, progress is slow and accidents keep piling up.
Who Takes Responsibility?
Many accidents have a combination of causes, and sometimes it is difficult to tell which factors are at fault. Insurance companies use this uncertainty to shift the blame, to stall claims and to refuse adequate compensation. Insurance companies are good at avoiding their responsibility toward legitimate claimants, adding insult to injury.
Living Victims
Fatal car accidents often leave living victims. They may have been injured in the accident themselves, but, just as often, they were not at the accident scene at all. All the same, they have lost a loved one, and they deserve financial help as a result. A fatal car accident attorney can help these victims. This may include an investigation into the causes of the accident, a look at the applicable laws, and a review of insurance pay-outs. This may include in-court and/or out-of-court representation. If you have suffered a loss due to a collision, scheduling a consultation is the first step to getting the help that you need.
Contact our San Jose car accident lawyer today using the form above for a free consultation if you have been injured in an accident in the San Jose area.