Stressed-out Americans who were cooped up in lockdowns were likely releasing
their anxieties on the nation’s roadways, displaying reckless and dangerous driving behaviors, and causing crash deaths to surge, according to a Los Angeles Times news report. The article gives examples of tragic car accidents from around the country including right here in New York City.
Two women, 20 and 19, died together in the back seat of a speeding car that crashed into a tree in Queens back in October 2020. In July 2021, a 31-year-old woman, who was turning left from eastbound Rockaway Boulevard onto northbound Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Springfield Gardens, was struck by an intoxicated driver who was traveling westbound.
Psychological Effects of the Pandemic
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there were 38,680 deaths on U.S. roadways in 2020, the most since 2007 even though pandemic lockdowns had drastically reduced traffic on the streets. Safety experts say they figured the number of roadway fatalities would go down in 2021 when traffic returned to the roadways and the pandemic eased. However, that did not happen.
The latest evidence suggests that after decades of safety gains, the pandemic has made drivers more reckless, more likely to speed, drive while impaired or to leave seatbelts unbuckled. Experts with the NSC say the pandemic has led many drivers to adopt some really unsafe driving habits such as driving while impaired or distracted and speeding. They believe this behavior is due to widespread feelings of isolation, depression and loneliness.
Reckless driving may just be a form of rebellion stemming from being cooped up at home and being restricted in what one can do, psychologists say. As a result safety advances made by seatbelt enforcement, airbag safety and vehicle safety features such as improved braking and stability control are now affected. The nation saw a 7.2% increase in crash fatalities in 2020 followed by an 18% increase just in the first six months of this year.
Increase in Reckless Behavior
Researchers attribute this surge in crashes and fatalities to several factors. First, since the pandemic began, a number of victims have been ejected from their vehicles because they were not buckled up. Then, there is the increasing use of alcohol and drugs. In one survey more than 7% of adults said they were more likely to drive under the influence now than they were before the pandemic.
In addition to alcohol, opioid use was also up during the pandemic as was marijuana use. Finally, more people are driving while distracted. Researchers used GPS and other data to determine that drivers used their phones more often after the pandemic began and that problem only got progressively worse. Experts say they don’t expect these dangerous driving behaviors to go away anytime soon, which leaves them more concerned about the continuing surge in crash-related deaths.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of speeding or reckless drivers can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For 50 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and/or medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-12-08/traffic-deaths-surged-during-covid-19-pandemic-heres-why