The government is always looking for ways to reduce traffic fatalities. Roughly 40,000 Americans lose their lives every year on the roads. Changes to the law, such as the introduction of speed limits or mandatory seatbelt laws, are designed to push these statistics down when possible.
But one thing that is interesting to note is that it’s not just the way people drive that impacts these statistics. There are a lot of different factors that have to be considered, some that can be adjusted and some that cannot. What studies have found is that access to prompt medical care plays a major role in whether or not the injuries suffered in an accident turn out to be fatalities.
For example, someone could be injured in a car accident that leads to significant blood loss. If that car accident happens in the city and it only takes a few minutes to get them to the hospital, they can get a blood transfusion and survive. But if the exact same accident happened in the country and an ambulance couldn’t even get there for 10 or 20 minutes, the person may pass away. Nothing about the accident or the injuries has been changed. Just the distance to the nearest medical center plays the defining role.
Have you lost a loved one?
You may be surprised by just how often traffic fatalities take place in the United States. Part of this certainly is because of the massive population of the country as a whole, but it’s also because each individual accident is just a single event. It’s easy enough for people to view these as things that “happen to other drivers” without thinking of the full ramifications or the risks that this creates for them.
But if you have been involved in an accident and lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, or if you’ve suffered serious injuries yourself, then it’s time to look into all of your rights to financial compensation.