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In the first half of 2015, there were significantly more fatal car accidents in comparison with the prior year. Unfortunately, as the Los Angeles Times reports, this news is especially troubling because the most dangerous part of the year with the highest fatality rate in collisions has not yet arrived. If trends continue, the United States is on pace to have the highest number of motor vehicle accident deaths since 2007. It will be the first time in eight years that the number of fatalities on roads throughout the nation exceeds 40,000.

With a higher number of people losing their lives in car crashes, it becomes even more important for victims to understand their rights under the law. A Ft. Myers personal injury attorney like Randall Spivey is here to help those who have lost loved ones in accidents. Surviving dependents should be entitled to full compensation for medical bills that were incurred to treat the individual’s injuries before the death occurred, as well as funeral expenses and the loss of the income the deceased could have earned during his life if not for the untimely death.

Why is There a Nationwide Rise in Collisions?

The LA Times offers several potential reasons why the number of car crash deaths is likely to be so much higher in 2015 as compared to recent years and provides some statistics that demonstrate how severe the problem of traffic fatalities is this year.

One of the biggest issues is that fuel costs have become much more affordable. The average price of gas on Labor Day of 2015 was at the lowest level in over 10 years and was more than $1 per gallon lower than the average price on the same day in 2014. Lower gas prices can cause more drivers to be out on the roads and can cause them to drive many more miles than they would if they had to pay higher fuel costs.

Another big reason for the nationwide rise in crashes is improving economic conditions. Lower unemployment rates mean more people are commuting to work, which also means more people are going out shopping or doing activities since their jobs provide the money to spend on such activities.

All of this has led to Americans driving 1.54 trillion miles in the first half of 2015, which is the highest number of miles ever driven in this period of time. The prior record was in 2007 before the financial crisis.

More drivers means there is a greater potential for accidents to happen, and the increase in fatal collisions has been significant. In the first half of 2015, there were 14 percent more traffic fatalities than the same portion of the year in 2014. In 2014, 32,675 people in total died that year, so the dramatic increase means the number of people dying in car crashes could top 40,000 this year for the first time since 2007.

Drivers need to be aware that more people on the roads means there’s a greater risk to safety and they need to react accordingly by exercising reasonable caution and avoiding dangerous behaviors. If a driver causes a fatal crash, surviving family members of victims should reach out to a personal injury attorney in Ft. Myers right away to begin the process of taking legal action to recover compensation from the insurer of the negligent motorist. Contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. today for assistance.