NSC: Motor Vehicle Deaths Up for First Three Months of 2021

Motor Vehicle deaths are a tragedy that we deal with every single day. In the U.S., we lose an average of 90 people in car accidents daily. Tragically, most collision-related fatalities are preventable. Public education campaigns and traffic enforcement are important tools to help change dangerous driving behavior. Preliminary numbers for 2021 show that motor vehicle deaths are up for the first three months of 2021.

If you lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident because of the negligent or reckless behavior of another, you may be entitled to compensation through a car accident claim. A personal injury attorney can explain your legal rights and help you recover a full and fair settlement for your losses.

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June is National Safety Month

The National Safety Council (NSC) has labeled June National Safety Month in the United States. The purpose of the label is to help bring awareness to the public about the health and safety risks that increase in the summer months in order to decrease the number of injuries and deaths that happen at home and in the community. Visit the National Safety Council website for tips and resources.

If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, you have the right to a settlement that will compensate you for your injuries. Contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights and get the help you need to get back on your feet.

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Can I Make a Personal Injury Claim for PTSD and Emotional Distress Caused by a Car Accident?

Most people think about physical injuries when it comes to car accidents but it’s important to understand that emotional distress, psychological trauma, anxiety and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are relatively common problems caused by collisions. This is particularly true when someone was killed or very severely injured in the accident or when cars burst into flames or become mangled beyond recognition.

Emotional injuries can be extremely debilitating – just as much if not more so than physical injuries – making it difficult to work and causing loss of enjoyment of life. According to the American Psychological Association, car accidents are the leading cause of PTSD among the general (non-military) population. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that nine percent of people who survive car accidents develop PTSD.

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NSC Memorial Day Holiday Period Traffic Fatalities Estimate for 2021

Many people look forward to holiday weekends to get together with friends and family. Sadly, whenever there are more cars on the road combined with holiday drinking, car accidents and traffic fatalities increase. This Memorial Day period*, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 415 people may die on U.S. roads. In addition, they estimate that 47,300 people will seek medical care for injuries they sustain in crashes over the holiday weekend.

*Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday in May but the holiday period is a 3.25-day weekend that begins Friday evening and runs through Monday. In 2021, the Memorial Day weekend extends from 6 p.m. Friday, May 28 to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 31.

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Personal Injury Settlements for Moderate to Severe TBI Should Cover Long-Term Effects

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are responsible for many deaths and permanent disabilities every year. According to data on cdc.gov, there were about 61,000 TBI-related deaths in the United States in 2019.

TBIs are typically caused by a violent bump, blow, or jolt to the head. In some cases, an object penetrates the brain such as a shard of glass from a windshield and causes a penetrating head injury that disrupts normal brain function. Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include physical paralysis, chronic pain and other chronic health issues, sleep issues, loss of hearing, loss of control of bowels or bladder, headaches, lost sense of taste, and seizures.

Moderate to severe instances of traumatic brain injury can change your quality of life for the worse for the rest of your life. A TBI can also have a huge impact on the family of the victim if the injured person needs ongoing care, can no longer work at their career, and/or take care of the kids or other family needs. These types of losses can and should be compensated through a personal injury claim or lawsuit when the injury occurred due to the negligent actions of another.

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Personal Injury Claims for Failure to Yield Accidents

When it comes to sharing the road with other drivers and pedestrians, you must learn when you have the right-of-way and when you should yield. For example, a driver at a four-way stop must wait until it is their turn to go or they risk crashing into another vehicle who actually had the right-of-way. Failure to yield accidents lead to some very serious injuries every year. If you were the victim of a failure to yield accident, you may find this article helpful.

What is failure to yield the right-of-way?

When a driver is guilty of failure to yield the right-of-way, it means that they didn’t allow other traffic, such as cars or pedestrians, to go when they had the right-of-way.

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Semi-truck vs Motorcycle Crash Sends Motorcyclist to Hospital

As reported by Whatcom News over the weekend, first responders were dispatched to the scene of a semi-truck versus motorcycle crash in Blaine, Washington at the intersection of Alderson Road and Blaine Road. The accident – that happened on May 14 – caused the temporary closure of Blaine Road between Alderson Road and Bay Road while rescuers extricated the motorcyclist from underneath the front of the semi-truck. North Whatcom Fire and Rescue and Whatcom County Fire District 7 crews used hydraulic jacks to lift the truck’s front axle to remove the patient. The patient was then transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center via advanced life support (ALS) protocols due to his leg injury.

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Motorcycle Accident Statistics for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Motorcycle riders are overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes with a higher fatality rate than drivers. The numbers are stark, with approximately 25 fatalities per 100 million miles of travel on a motorcycle compared to 0.80 fatalities per 100 million miles of passenger car travel.

Motorcycle accident statistics

• Motorcycles represent only three percent of registered vehicles but they account for 14 percent of traffic-related fatalities.
• A motorcycle driver is 27 times more likely to die in a crash than a car driver and 80 percent of all motorcycle crashes result in injury or death compared to 20 percent of all passenger car accidents.
• In 2019, 5,014 motorcyclists died in motorcycle crashes.
• Motorcyclists are also at an increased risk for single-vehicle accidents; 34% of motorcycle accidents do not involve any other vehicle compared to only 14 percent of car crashes.

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Bellingham Man Charged with Vehicular Assault and Felony DUI After High-Speed Crash

As reported by the BellinghamHerald.com, a Bellingham man lost control of his vehicle and crashed on the evening of Tuesday, May 4 in Whatcom County. The accident took place on Marine Drive near the intersection of Ferndale Road, just west of the Nooksack River. The passenger in his vehicle was hospitalized for resulting injuries. Twenty-nine-year-old Toby William Solomon was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of vehicular assault, felony DUI, driving with a suspended license and possession of a dangerous weapon.

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Wrongful Death Lawsuit Brought by Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Who Lost Husband to COVID-19

As reported by thehill.com, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her employer after she attended a training session that she says exposed her – and indirectly her husband – to Covid-19. The suit alleges that the company’s lax Covid-19 protocols and contact tracing efforts eventually led to the death of her husband. Covid pneumonia was listed as the primary cause of death. Sixty-nine-year-old Carol Madden, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court in Maryland; she is seeking more than $3 million in damages for the wrongful death of her then 73-year-old husband.

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