Despite more safety equipment in cars, car crash deaths are rising in California and across the country. Crash death rates have been on the rise since 2014, with California experiencing a frightening increase of 31%.
Car accident death statistics
Since January of this year, about 19,100 people have been killed on U.S. roads — enough to fill 382 school buses — and 2.2 million were seriously injured. While some attribute the increase in car accident-related deaths to the fact that people are driving more, we believe that our roads should be getting safer, not more dangerous. If your loved one was killed in an auto accident, contact an experienced wrongful death attorney to discuss your legal rights.
Car safety features
Even though people may be driving more, aren’t our cars getting safer? In many ways, the answer is yes. More new 
cars are now equipped with safety features that are saving lives in crashes. These features include more airbags, automated braking, blind spot warnings, and backup cameras. Unfortunately, we have seen that many drivers get “lazy” and take advantage of these and other technological features by not paying attention to the road, expecting that the car will do so for them. This results in serious auto accidents where innocent victims suffer life-threatening injuries.
Distracted driving
Not surprisingly, experts agree that the number of deaths caused by car accidents could be lower if distracted driving wasn’t an issue. These days, almost everyone has a smartphone and many use them while behind the wheel. Even though smartphone use while behind the wheel, such as texting and driving, is against the law, the lure of Facebook, Instagram, and other entertaining apps is often too tempting for many drivers. This puts innocent drivers and occupants at risk. If you or a loved one was injured, or your loved one was killed, by a distracted driver, contact a skilled personal injury attorney to discuss your potential for financial recovery.
For more information on how to proceed after your family member is killed in a wrongful death auto accident, reach out to attorney Barry P. Goldberg today for a free consultation.
