A Report from Your New Jersey Car Accident Attorneys
Traffic accident fatalities across the country dropped to their lowest level in decades last year. According to preliminary data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, those numbers fell to the lowest levels since record-keeping began in 1949.
In New Jersey, car accident attorneys have observed a decrease in traffic accident fatalities around the country. Nationwide, only three states reported an increase in traffic accident fatalities last year: California, Hawaii and Arizona.
According to recent estimates, the number of people killed in motor vehicle accidents last year dropped to 32,310, a 1.7% drop from 2010. Although these are preliminary figures – final figures will be released later this year – the final numbers will likely reflect the preliminary data, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Much of the decline in traffic accidents can be attributed to safer automobile construction. In the last few decades, automakers have been responding to safety concerns by designing cars packed with accident prevention and life-saving technologies. Many automobiles now come with side airbags, lane departure warning systems, forward collision warning systems and other features that help prevent collisions and protect occupants in a crash. Federal transportation officials believe that much of the credit for saving lives in accidents goes to the enhanced safety systems that are now available in many automobiles.
Automakers have also been focusing on making sports utility vehicles and pickup trucks safer. When these vehicles are involved in accidents with smaller sedans, the impact on the occupants of the smaller vehicle can be devastating. However, design modifications have reduced the impact of such collisions.
Additionally, seat belt usage rates around the country are up, and seat belt safety has played a big role in helping keep occupants safer in accidents.
The New Jersey car accident attorneys at Helmer Paul Conley and Kasselman represent persons injured in traffic accidents across New Jersey.
