Safety Advocates Say Car Crashes Are No Accidents

 A growing number of safety advocates are campaigning to change the way we talk about traffic collisions. “Car accidents” are exactly the two words with which these advocates have a problem. They say this century-old way of referring to traffic incidents trivializes the single most common cause of collisions – human error. According to an article in The New York Times, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Mark Rosekind, said this on the subject: ” When you use the word ‘accident,’ its like ‘God made it happen.'”
That, he and other safety advocates say, is exactly the problem, because more often than not, car crashes are caused by dangerous or negligent driver behavior such as driving under the influence, distracted driving, drowsy driving and a failure to observe the rules of the road. Things are not getting any better. A recent report by the National Safety Council shows that fatal crashes increased by nearly 8 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year. About 38,000 people died in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2015.

Are We Getting Desensitized?
Many safety advocates believe that driving continues to be a dangerous activity for most of us because people are desensitized to the fact that it can be hazardous. Changing semantics in this regard can help shake policy makers out of the attitude that no one’s to blame for traffic accidents, they say. On Jan. 1 Nevada enacted a law to change the word “accident” to “crash” in many instances where the word is mentioned in state laws, including those covering police and insurance reports.
In 2014, New York City adopted a policy that the city cannot regard traffic incidents as mere accidents. Several state departments of transportation have moved away from the word “accident” as well. Even the Associated Press announced a new policy in April that when negligence is claimed or proven in the crash, reporters should avoid using the word accident, which may be interpreted to mean that no one was at fault.
Common Causes of Car Crashes
If we examine some of the most common causes of traffic collisions, it’s easy to see why we shouldn’t call them “accidents.” Most car crashes occur due to human error or negligence. Some common examples of negligence on the part of motorists include:
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy or fatigued driving
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Failing to yield the right of way to other vehicles or pedestrians
• Making an unsafe lane change
• Making an illegal or unsafe turn
When a motorist causes a collision, whether due to recklessness and/or negligence, it is no longer “an accident.” In cases where major injuries or fatalities occur, drivers often face criminal charges. In addition, they may be held civilly liable for the injuries, damages and losses they cause. Negligence is a critical element in personal injury cases. Plaintiffs must prove that the other party was negligent in order to receive monetary compensation for their losses. This is why it is critical for victims to collect as much evidence as possible from the scene including physical evidence and other details such as police reports, eyewitness statements, photographs, etc., and retain an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Compensation for Injured Victims
The worth or value of a car accident claim depends in part on the seriousness of the injuries. For example, an injury that causes an individual to be hospitalized and seek rehabilitative treatment would be higher in value than a case where the injuries are minor or in a case that resulted only in property damage. Injured victims of car accidents can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a reckless driver or due to someone else’s negligence, 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. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a man 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.
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 cases in 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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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/science/its-no-accident-advocates-want-to-speak-of-car-crashes-instead.html