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Serious accidents can occur in the blink of an eye, leaving behind lifelong disabilities, impairments, and deficits. Sadly, many accidents are fatal, cutting short the lives of accident victims and leaving their families scrambling for answers. If you or someone you love has been injured or lost a loved one in an accident, reach out to our Norristown accident attorney at The Weitz Firm, LLC for help. We handle all types of accident claims, including those involving serious car or truck accidents.

Car Crash Statistics

Pennsylvania is a hotbed for automobile accidents, a fact that is underscored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) 2020 Crash Facts & Statistics, an annual publication looking at auto crashes throughout the Commonwealth. While traveling more than 102 billion miles traveled on Pennsylvania’s roads, highways, and byways, people were involved in around 286 crashes each and every day during 2020. This is around 12 crashes each hour, 168 injuries per day, seven injuries daily, and three daily fatalities.

Common Accident Causes

Serious car accidents are never planned, but some circumstances increase the likelihood of an accident occurring. Some leading auto accident causes include:

  • Distracted driving: Year in and year out, distracted driving becomes even more prevalent among drivers. Distractions are mainly due to smartphone use—including texting, talking, and watching videos on the phone. However, it can also be due to eating or reading while driving or applying makeup or grooming—although these causes are typically less common.
  • Inebriated driving: Drivers who drive drunk or under the influence of drugs put themselves and others at grave risk of harm. PennDOT reports that in 2020, crashes related to alcohol numbered 7,700, with 293 deaths resulting from these auto wrecks.
  • Reckless driving and speeding: Driving recklessly or exceeding the posted speed limit are behaviors that can lead to serious accidents and deaths on the roadway. Speeding is the third most prevalent cause of auto accidents in the United States, which highlights just how widespread the issue is.
  • Disregarding/disobeying traffic control devices and traffic laws: Failing to stop at a stop sign or red light can lead to negative outcomes, including serious auto crashes. In addition, actions such as improper turning or wrong-way driving can be equally as dangerous.

Compensatory Damages in Accident Cases

The goal of an accident claim is to help the injured party become whole again financially. This is accomplished with awards for both economic and noneconomic losses. Compensatory damages in accident cases may include:

  • Medical bills: Payment for past, present, and future medical bills is standard.
  • Lost wages: Compensation for past, present, and future loss of income due to the accident is common.
  • Pain and suffering/mental anguish: This type of compensation varies based on the severity of injuries and any ongoing or lifelong problems that result.

In the case of claims involving loss of life (wrongful death claims) families may seek out the same compensation that their deceased loved one might have been eligible for, had the person lived. In addition, families may seek compensation for loss of companionship, consortium, and love, among other damages.

Discuss your case in more detail with our Norristown accident attorney. Reach out to The Weitz Firm, LLC for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.

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