What is the most deadly Traffic Accident?
Some of the most deadly traffic collisions include motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, and head-on collisions.
Motorcycle accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die in traffic crashes than passengers in cars. Because of their small size and lack of safety measures, motorcyclists face considerable risk if they get into a collision.
Motorcycles lack the enclosure of a passenger vehicle. The only thing between the motorcycle rider and outside hazards is their clothing and (hopefully) a helmet.
Truck Accidents
Because of their massive size and weight, crashes with trucks can be devastating for smaller vehicles. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were nearly 5,000 large trucks involved in fatal injury crashes in 2018.
Head-on Collisions
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), although head-on collisions are relatively rare, they accounted for 10.8% of fatal crashes in 2018.
Why are Head-on Collisions so Dangerous?
Head-on collisions are so dangerous because for one to happen, both drivers of the vehicles had to have made a critical error with no time to correct it. For this reason, the impact is sudden. According to the III, the higher the speed of vehicles in a head-on collision, the lower the seatbelts and airbags effectiveness.
Side-impact crashes
The III reports that side-impact crashes made up the most fatal car accidents in 2018 at 17.9%. Crumple zones, areas on a car meant to sustain most of the force of a collision, are usually located in the front and back of the vehicle. On the side of the car, however, passengers have little protection during a side-impact collision.
Common Causes of Fatal Accidents
Driver error is the most common cause of fatal car accidents.
Speeding
As previously mentioned, speeding decreases vehicle safety mechanisms’ effectiveness. Speeding causes slower reaction times and higher-impact collisions. If a driver was speeding and kills another driver because of it, they can be accountable for their family’s loss.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a major cause of many collisions. When a driver diverts their attention from the road, they are more likely to cause an accident. In a scenario where someone is reading a text, blows through a red light, and hits another car, killing the driver, they would be liable for their losses. If the driver was not reading their texts, they would’ve seen the red light and been able to avoid the collision.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is against the law—and for a good reason. According to the NHTSA, 28 people die every day as a result of drunk driving.
Drunk driving slows your reaction time, blurs your vision, and makes you act irrationally.
Drowsy Driving
Almost 700 people died in 2019 from drowsy drivers, according to the NHTSA. Drowsy driving crashes usually occur at night, and drivers can prevent these accidents by stopping their vehicles and resting.
Penalties of a Fatal Accident
If someone killed your loved one in a fatal car accident, our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can help you hold them accountable for your losses in a wrongful death claim, which might include:
- Your loved one’s final medical bills
- The costs of their funeral and burial
- They lost financial support after their death
- Your pain and suffering
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering before their death
Criminal Charges following a Fatal Car Accident
Aside from the financial penalties, they will have to face if a driver kills your loved one, they will face criminal penalties as well. At best, they would face a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge. If they were speeding, drunk driving, or otherwise violating traffic laws, they could face other charges.
Criminal charges, however, do not bar the families of the victims from seeking compensation. We can still help you file a lawsuit against them for financial recovery.
Who can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Depending on your state, the surviving family members of someone killed in a fatal crash might be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver. In some states, however, it could be up to the estate’s personal representative to file on the family’s behalf. People who might be able to benefit from a wrongful death settlement include:
- Spouse
- Parents
- Children
- Other dependents
If none of the above people are available to benefit from the case, then siblings, aunts, and uncles might be able to benefit. A member of our team can tell you who can file a wrongful death case following a loved one’s fatal car accident.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer from Our Team
If your loved one passed away in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, consider hiring a fatal car accident lawyer from our team.
Here are some of the ways our attorneys can benefit you:
Investigate what caused your loved one’s death
We can gather evidence to prove that the other driver caused your loved one’s death and that you deserve compensation.
File an Insurance Claim
We can use the evidence we gathered to file a claim against the negligent driver’s insurance policy. If we cannot reach a fair settlement with insurance, we can file a wrongful death case on your behalf.
Prepare your Case for Trial
If we have to go to trial after filing a lawsuit, we will make sure your case holds up under a judge and jury’s scrutiny.
Call us at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato want to help if your loved one died in a car accident. We offer free consultations and don’t take any attorney’s fees upfront.
Call a member of our legal team today at (954) 633-8270.
