USA Car Accident Deaths In 2020

Despite the harsh restrictions that were placed on all of our lives last year which led to less of us being out on the road, there were actually more deaths from car accidents than there were in the previous year.

Research conducted by the National Safety Council (NSC) shows that in 2020, 42,060 individuals died as a direct result of being involved in a car accident. This is an 8 percent rise from 2019 and the very first increase in more than 4 years. In addition to this, the rate of death per 100 miles drive increased by 24 percent in the same year. This represents the biggest yearly percentage increase since records began almost 100 years ago, back in 1923. 

It is clear from these stats that there has been a significant increase in drivers taking actions on the road that are very risky. On top of all of these deaths, the National Safety Council (NSC) found that some 4.8 million Americans were harmed in car accidents during 2020.

Driving Less Miles

This all comes despite the fact that there were actually less journeys made in 2020. Federal figures show that across the entire United States of America, we drove 13 percent less miles than what we did in 2019. Over the course of the year that roughly equates to some 2.8 trillion miles. 

For instance, in the state of Minnesota, because of the stay at home orders that were issued by the US Government, the amount of traffic that was on the roads there fell by as much as 60 percent. Despite of this, the national statistics of more deaths as result of car accidents still, unfortunately, rang true for the Land of 10,000 Lakes also.

The Causes

It is clear then from this data that as a result of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, it seems to be the case that more of us are lacking in the levels of concentration that are required to drive on the roads in a safe manner. This is likely to be because people are worried about the economy, their businesses, their jobs, their health and that of their loved ones,and focusing on these things rather than what is on the road. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found there to be greater incidences of reckless driving and speeding on America’s roads during 2020. Of the individuals involved in car accidents, an increased number of them were believed to be under the influence of opioids, marijuana, and alcohol.

Getting Help

If you or a loved one was unfortunate enough to be one of the 4.8 million individuals to be injured on our roads in 2020, then you may want to seek out the help and assistance of a specialist car accident attorney. This is because they can use their skill and expertise to establish what, if any, compensation you are entitled to and how best to proceed with your claim against the guilty party’s insurance provider.