According to the latest data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed is the number one contributing factor of fatal car accidents in Alabama, which typically leads the nation in traffic fatalities, and the current statistics do not buck that trend. Alabama’s 2010 1.34 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled fatality rate is higher than the nation’s 1.11 average.
Speed was a factor regardless of the type of roads traveled, though more fatal crashes did occur in rural areas, where speed is often combined with alcohol use and emergency response times can be slower. But even in accidents that occur on highways, the fatality rate is increased. In Shelby and Jefferson counties, 43 crashes caused 47 traffic fatalities on the most used highways. These accidents include single-vehicle accidents, multi vehicle accidents and accidents that involved vehicles and pedestrians.
Even with more stringent traffic laws being put into effect, there are still a large number of accidents occurring on Alabama roadways, and many can be attributed to what could be construed as negligent acts. The use of alcohol or drugs while operating a motor vehicle can increase the chances of an accident while according to the state highway patrol, for every 10-miles-per-hour increase in speed, the chances of a fatal accident occurring doubles.
With statistics such as these, a person who has been injured in a car accident can build a solid personal injury case against a driver cited for speeding during a accident. A personal injury attorney may know how to interpret both the state statistics as well as the specifics from a victim’s accident and help him or her obtain compensation from the driver who was found to be negligent.
Source: AL.com, “590 killed in more than 530 fatal traffic crashes in Jefferson and Shelby counties between 2007 and 2011,” Mike D. Smith, March 23, 2013
