What Percentage of Car Accidents Are Fatal?

Each day, three people are killed in Pennsylvania car accidents. The Commonwealth reports that approximately 1% of all reported motor vehicle crashes involve fatal injuries, with pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists accounting for a disproportionate number of fatalities. This is consistent with the national average.

If you lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, discuss your rights with the compassionate accident lawyers at Mette Law. We provide experienced legal counsel for residents of Lancaster, PA, and the surrounding areas.

Leading Causes of Fatal Motor Vehicle Collisions in Lancaster

Heavy vehicles – such as large trucks – traveling at excessive speeds increase the crash force upon impact. This often results in fatal injuries, such as brain stem trauma, spinal cord damage, burns, and organ failure. Though numerous factors contribute to car accident fatalities, most fatal crashes occur when the following negligent driving behaviors are combined with speeding:

• Distracted Driving (Texting): Phones take drivers’ eyes, hands, and minds off the road. This stops distracted drivers from seeing other vehicles or pedestrians, meaning they don’t slow down to at least prevent fatal injuries.
• Fatigue Driving: Drowsy driving is nearly as dangerous as drunk driving. Many fatal car accidents in Lancaster involved fatigued shift workers and long-haul truck drivers.
• Reckless Driving: When drivers speed while negligently changing lanes, this often results in fatal chain-reaction crashes.
• Failure to Yield: Failing to yield at traffic lights and stop signs causes serious intersection (T-bone) crashes. Because drivers accelerate, often believing they have the right of way, directly into the driver or passenger (vehicle side), these accidents have a high fatality rate.
• Drunk Driving: A leading cause of fatal car crashes, drugs, and alcohol drastically impair the driver’s ability to recognize and respond to accident conditions.

Overall, driver negligence is the leading cause of fatal Lancaster car crashes. If your loved one died in a car accident on US Route-30, contact a compassionate wrongful death attorney immediately.

Damages Available After Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents

Eligible family members have two years from the date of death, not the accident, to file wrongful death litigation after fatal car crashes. An experienced Lancaster wrongful death lawyer can help you pursue justice by holding criminal drivers accountable in court. They can also demand valuable insurance compensation from liable insurance companies for the following:

• Medical expenses
• Funeral costs
• Lost financial support
• Loss of spousal and parental companionship
• Emotional suffering (family members)
• Physical pain and emotional suffering (victim)

Additionally, experienced attorneys can demand punitive damages in fatal drunk and reckless driving crashes. Though most drivers do not have the resources to cover high punitive awards, reputable wrongful death lawyers will stop at nothing to hold dangerous drivers accountable to the full extent of the law.

Contact Our Wrongful Death Attorneys

No financial award can ever compensate devastated families after fatal motor vehicle collisions. However, the compassionate wrongful death lawyers at Mette Law can fight to ensure you receive the support you need during this difficult time. We do not charge families any upfront legal fees or out-of-pocket costs after fatal Lancaster motor vehicle crashes. Call 717-232-5000 or contact us online today.