Despite decades of improved roadway safety, experts say that American drivers are increasingly willing to take risks behind the wheel. This growing trend puts California drivers at risk for serious or even fatal car accident injuries. Some of the risky behavior cited by experts include:
- Increased likelihood of speeding
- Increased likelihood of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Decreased likelihood of wearing a seatbelt
A troubling trend
The newest problem with reckless drivers seemed to start in 2020. Perhaps what is most surprising is that there were fewer overall drivers on the road that year. Experts believe that drivers were simply releasing anxiety and stress on mostly empty roads and that the total number of fatal accidents would go back down in 2021 when more people started driving again.
Unfortunately, experts were wrong. Annual car accident fatalities increased by 7.2% in 2020. In the first six months of 2021, fatalities rose by a shocking 18%. The rise in fatalities took place on both back roads and highways, as well as in cities and rural areas. Research indicates that virtually nowhere is safe from the rise in dangerous driving.
Losing a loved one to fatal car accident injuries is often a life-altering experience. California families often struggle to balance the grieving process with the unexpected financial burden of a sudden death, including funeral costs. While nothing can undo the past, families that successfully navigate wrongful death claims on behalf of their loved ones are often able to address the related financial damages.