The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life in virtually every community on the planet. Following the Official Proclamation of ‘State of Emergency’ by Governor Greg Abbott in March of 2020, the daily vehicle miles driven in Texas decreased. Overall, Americans drove 13% fewer miles in 2020 than the previous year. Yet, shockingly, the number of catastrophic car accidents spiked. The preliminary report from the National Safety Council (NSC) finds that 42,060 died in automobile accidents nationwide in 2020—the most in 13 years. Below, our Brazoria County auto accident lawyer provides a more comprehensive overview of the data.
National Safety Council: Alarming Increase in Car Accidents
The National Safety Council is one of the country’s leading nonprofit safety advocates. Each year, the NSC releases comprehensive data on highway safety. Notably, the preliminary reports published by the organization have a strong reputation for accuracy. That makes 2020’s poor showing especially alarming. Here are four key takeaways from the highway safety report.
- Far Too Many Serious Accidents: Car accidents happen far too frequently. In 2020, the NSC estimates that 42,060 people were killed and 4.8 million were injured in motor vehicle collisions in the United States. More must be done to improve highway safety.
- An Increase in Deaths, Despite a Fall in Driving: Although vehicle miles driven were estimated to be 13% lower in 2020 than 2019, the number of auto accident fatalities increased by around 8%.
- The Highest Spike in Fatality Rate in 96 Years: The car accident fatality rate was 24% higher in 2020 than it was in 2019. That is the single largest one year jump in 96 years. By that measure, it is the worst one year performance since 1925—a time when far fewer traffic safety regulations were in place.
- Texas Saw Number Increase in Line With the Nation: The 2020 highway accident spike was a true national problem. Hawaii was the only state that saw its traffic fatality rate drop. Preliminary data shows that around 260 more people died in car crashes in Texas in 2020 than in 2019.
At this point, public safety researchers are asking a lot of questions. In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, many people hypothesized that the decrease in driving would result in fewer catastrophic injuries and fatalities on our roadways. That the opposite happened is incredibly alarming. The NSC notes that an increase in risky driving behaviors—such as speeding, intoxicated driving, and distracted driving—may have been a factor.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Car Accident Attorney in Brazoria County
At the Kolodny Law Firm, our Brazoria County auto accident lawyers fight hard to get victims the full and fair financial support they deserve. If you or someone you know was hurt in a serious motor vehicle crash, we can help. Contact us now for a free, no commitment review of your case. We handle traffic accident injury claims throughout all of Brazoria County, including in Pearland, Lake Jackson, Alvin, Angleton, and Richwood.
Alan Kolodny is committed to representing injured clients in Texas and throughout the United States. Alan earned his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
He focuses his practice on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases involving the following matters: maritime and offshore accidents, including those under the Jones Act; automobile and 18-wheeler truck accidents; and industrial site accidents, work-related accidents, and claims for injured railroad workers under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
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