More than 3 million people each year are injured in motor vehicle accidents across the United States, resulting in billions of dollars in damages. Thousands of drivers and passengers sustain serious injuries in these accidents, which can be physically and financially devastating.
The Pennsylvania car accident lawyers of Munley, Munley and Cartwright can offer critical advice if you’ve been injured in a car wreck. By working with our experienced automobile accident lawyers, you’ll gain some control over your future by ensuring that your rights and interests are protected.
In 2006, there were 128,342 reportable traffic crashes in Pennsylvania. These crashes claimed the lives of 1,525 people and injured another 96,597 people. On average in Pennsylvania:
- Each day 352 reportable traffic crashes occurred (about 15 crashes every hour).
- Each day 4 persons were killed in reportable traffic crashes (one death every 6 hours).
- Each day 265 persons were injured in reportable crashes (about 11 injuries every hour).
More automobile collisions involved a single vehicle hitting a fixed object (tree, guardrail, etc.) than any other type. Head on collisions, though they occur much less frequently, caused the third highest number of deaths. Passenger cars were involved in more crashes than all other vehicle types combined.
In every age group, male drivers are involved in more accidents than female drivers. Male drivers ages 16-20 are involved in more crashes than drivers in any other age group. Here is breakdown of accident causes:
- Speed-Related: 37,898 (fatal) 682
- Drinking Driver: 12,590 (fatal) 313
- Improper Turning-Related: 12,915 (fatal) 84
- Careless/Illegal Passing: 4,431 (fatal) 76
- Distracted Driver: 11,945 (fatal) 74
- Proceeded Without Clearance: 8,769 (fatal) 67
- Tailgating: 5,634 (fatal) 41
- Drowsy Drivers: 2,250 (fatal) 24
While adverse weather and road surface conditions can negatively affect vehicle handling and driver sight, the vast majority of crashes occurred under no adverse conditions.
Improperly-maintained vehicles can also lead to collisions. In 2006, tire or wheel and brake-related failures contributed to the majority of motor vehicle defect-related crashes.
Not surprisingly, motor vehicle accidents and deaths were higher during peak traffic times. Some hours of the day experienced a low percentage of crashes, but they are much more deadly. For example, only 2.9% of all crashes in 2005 occurred in the 2:00 a.m. hour, but 6.1% of all deaths’ the highest percentage-occurred then.
With few exceptions, most vehicle accidents occurred in the weekends directly before or after a holiday. In 2006, the economic loss due to traffic crashes was $895 to every man, woman, and child in Pennsylvania according to the PA Dept of Transportation.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident and need knowledgeable legal help, please contact the PA automobile accident lawyers of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C. by calling 1-800-318-LAW1, or contact us online. For more information about our PA car accident lawyers and law firm, we invite you to visit www.munley.com.
