Although the UK has one of Europe and the world's best road safety records, the number of preventable road traffic accidents is still too high, personal injury solicitors warn.
Speeding, undertaking, tailgating and other aggressive driving behaviours lead to thousands of preventable deaths and personal injuries on these roads every year, causing a huge amount of suffering and grief, as well as huge economic costs.
The last few years have seen huge increases in the overall volume of traffic on the country's roads, with certain road groups such as cyclists seeing disproportionate increases in some areas. However, the number of deaths on the country's roads has fallen massively in the last few decades - in the mid-1980s, around 5,500 people died in road traffic accidents every year, but in 2012, this figure fell to just 1,754.
Nonetheless, this does not mean that drivers should be complacent - 1,754 deaths a year is still around five deaths every day, while between 660,000 and 880,000 become injured in road accidents annually - around 80,000 of these seriously so. Most of these incidents are not reported - in 2012, just 23,039 serious personal injuries following road traffic accidents were reported, as well as 193,784 slight injuries.
What leads to road accident personal injury claims?
Driver error is to blame for the overwhelming majority of motor vehicle accidents - it is rare for personal injury solicitors to handle road traffic accident claims in which a local authority, vehicle manufacturer, passenger or mechanic was at fault, although there are case studies of these.
Some of the factors that can lead to road accident personal injury claims include:
- Speeding
Speeding is a factor in the deaths of around 400 people every year, with these including collisions in which people break the speed limit or drive too fast for the road conditions.
- Drink driving
Every year, drink driving is responsible for the deaths of around 280 people, with drug-driving factored into around 200 deaths.
- Driving recklessly or carelessly
Careless or reckless driving is a factor in over 300 deaths every year, with 120 deaths caused by aggressive driving.
- A lack of experience
More than 400 people die in car accidents involving motorists aged between 17 and 24 years old every year. This figure consists of around 150 young drivers, 100 passengers and 170 other people, such as pedestrians or other drivers.
It is also estimated that improper seatbelt use leads to around 200 unnecessary deaths every year. People who do not wear their seat belt and who make a personal injury claim after being involved in a car accident could see their compensation reduced by around 20%, case studies indicate.
As the overall number of fatal and serious road traffic accidents generally declines every year, personal injury solicitors expect to see fewer incidents over 2014, and expect the incidents they do see to be generally less serious.
About The Author:
Hellen works with personal injury solicitors from many years, she has much knowledge about accident at work compensation claims, and she live in London with her family.
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