Unfortunately, a head on car collision south of Indianola resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries over the weekend. Although it is believed that a motorist crossed the center line causing the collision, an investigation is underway to determine what factors lead up to the deadly accident,
Leading Causes of Traffic Fatalities
Iowa has seen an uptick in the number of traffic fatalities, a phenomena trending nationwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that traffic fatalities have increased across the nation, with a 7% increase in traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 – the highest number of first quarter fatalities since 2002.
The overall numbers are “moving in the wrong direction”, according to the NHTSA, signaling a need for “all states to double down on traffic safety” that starts by looking at the leading causes of car accident fatalities:
Speeding is one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities with one third of all motor vehicle fatalities attributed to speeding. over the last two decades. When a motorist speeds not only is there a greater potential for loss of vehicle control, crashes result in more severe injuries and death.
Impaired driving costs lives. According the NHTSA, drunk driving crashes kill about 37 people day in the U.S., or one person every 39 minutes. Driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, methamphetamine, and any other impairing drug puts drivers, passengers and and other motorists at risk.
Distracted driving claims thousands of lives each year. Any activity that takes a drivers attention away from driving – texting, talking to people on the phone or in the car, eating, adjusting the radio or navigation system – can cause an accident resulting in injuries and fatalities.
Aggressive driving often involves speeding, frequent lane changes, failure to use turn signals, unpredictable stops, riding other motorists’ bumpers, and a whole host of other antics that an aggressive driver may engage in to either get where they are going or punish motorists for real or perceived slights. Aggressive driving is a very dangerous behavior and can result in catastrophic accidents involving multiple vehicles.
Drowsy driving can impair cognition and driving performance leading to car crashes. Anything from a baby keeping someone up all night to a long, monotonous holiday drive can induce drowsiness on the road, putting a driver and other motorists at risk.
Road conditions can change from day to day, and from season to season. Even those who strictly obey traffic speeds, it is sometimes necessary to reduce speeds when road conditions warrant. Roadway construction, the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists, slippery surfaces caused by rain, snow or ice, debris and roadway disrepair are all reasons to slow down and pay attention to avoid accidents.
Medical emergencies are becoming more common. When vehicles suddenly veer off the road or crash, it may be due to a medical condition such as epilepsy, diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease. mental illness or alcoholism. It is estimated that 20 percent of all crashes are medical related. While some medical issues cannot be predicted or avoided, many more are caused by negligence when a driver with a known condition fails to put safety first.
Contact an Iowa Car Accident Lawyer for Help Today
With Iowa traffic fatalities on the rise, it is important for Iowa motorists to understand the leading causes of car accident fatalities and to avoid risky behaviors including speeding, drunk or drugged driving, distracted driving and driving while fatigued. It is also important to adjust speeds for conditions and avoid driving if there is a medical condition or prescription medication that makes operating a vehicle risky. If you are injured in an Iowa car accident, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney who will seek compensation for damages including medical bills, lost wages, property loss, pain and suffering, punitive damages and more. In the unfortunate event that a loved one succumbs to their injuries following a car accident, an attorney can represent your family in a wrongful death cliaim. Contact Des Moines personal injury lawyer Marc Humphrey for immediate assistance today at 515-331-3510.
