One of the little-known side effects of the Pandemic has been an increase in car accident fatalities in 2020 and 2021. Most people would think that the number of serious car accidents would have decreased since many people were working from home during the pandemic. That is partially true – 2020 saw fewer overall car accidents than 2019, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the fatality rate of those accidents increased to the highest level in almost 15 years.
After several years of a decrease in car accident deaths, 2020 had 5% more traffic accident deaths than 2019, and 2021 was projected to have a 12% increase in car accident deaths than 2020. During the Pandemic, there has been an increase in risky driving behavior such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and not wearing a seat belt. The number of people that were killed in car accidents who were not wearing seatbelts jumped 15% over the prior year. In 45% of fatal car crashes, drivers involved were either speeding, intoxicated, or not wearing a seat belt.
Riding a bicycle in Fort Lauderdale Florida has become equally dangerous. Bicycle accident fatalities have increased almost 10% during the pandemic. This is the highest level since 1987. While many people stayed out of their cars during the pandemic, bicycle usage rose to its highest level ever as people tired of working from home wanted to get outside. The American College of Surgeons estimated that trauma cases from bicycle-related injuries increased 100%.
Tips to Decrease The Odds of a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident or Bicycle Accident
Drivers and bike riders can take some simple steps to lower any chance of becoming injured in a car or bike accident:
For Drivers:
- Slow your speed – the United States Army conducted a study to find out whether speeding actually saves time. The conclusion was that with the exception of long trips, local speeding does not save more than a few minutes. And with higher speed limits on interstates, speeding on the highway did not save that much time.
- Wear a seat belt – study after study shows you are better off wearing a seat belt in a serious accident. The Transportation Safety Council has found seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%.
For Bicyclists:
- Wear a helmet and high visibility clothing
- Stay out of the road whenever possible
- Obey traffic signals
Contact a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you know of someone seriously injured in a car accident or bike accident, please have them contact the Maus Law Firm for a free consultation.