Of all the recorded Virginia traffic accidents, just over half resulted in some kind of severe injury, and over 800 resulted in at least one fatality. . Upon conviction, this may result in not only fines and demerit points, but incarceration for up to 12 months, a license suspension of up to 6 months, and a criminal record. Backing into a driveway is considered a ____. In Virginia alone, 253 people died and 5,288 were injured in alcohol-related crashes, according to the Highway Safety Office’s 2013 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts. Understanding the threat that these impaired drivers pose to others on the roadway has led the state to treat driving under the influence (DUI) as a criminal offense. The statistics indicate that a driver talking on his or her phone is 40 percent less focused on the roadway, and when using the phone to text, peruse social media, or search the internet, that driver is 23 times more likely to crash than a driver with proper focus on the roadway. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability to teens in the United States. This kind of reckless behavior leaves an impaired driver responsible for the damages caused by his or her actions. Fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents in Virginia. ©2020 Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission. The age group with the lowest crash death rate in our state is people aged 0 to 20, who have a rate of 3.9 per 100,000 population. In Virginia, a speeding ticket can result in fines, demerit points against the driver’s record, and other penalties. Copyright © 2020 Price Benowitz LLP. A red light is an example of a(n) _____ area. If asked, many people would cite accident reasons like aggressive driving, cell-phone use, distracted driving, following too closely and more. Distracted drivers are a danger on the roadway and are responsible for a large percentage of the nation’s traffic crashes. This represents a 3.5% increase over the 2017 figures. You may be surprised to know that the number one cause of car accidents isn’t drunk driving, teen drivers or running red lights – it’s distracted drivers. Causes of Car Accidents: Drunk Driving in Virginia. Do I Need to Report a Car Accident in Virginia? We were very happy that we chose Mr. Dulaney for our case . One of the newest and most difficult to track risk factors is distracted driving. The national average is 7.0 per 100,000 population. Punitive damages for persons injured by intoxicated drivers. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, car wrecks are the leading cause of death for Virginia residents under the age of thirty. If you’ve spent any time driving in Northern Virginia, then you probably have your own personal list of driving pet peeves, the things you think other drivers are doing to contribute to accidents. Virginia Crash Facts: 228 passengers were killed last year in Virginia. The cost and crashworthiness of vehicles as well as drivers safety habits affect the cost of auto insurance. 2017: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 37,133 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017, down 1.8 percent from 37,806 in 2016, the first decline sin… Source: https://wonder.cdc.gov States are categorized from highest rate to lowest rate. Passenger-side impacts are the number one cause of deaths in intersections. Although adjusted for differences in age-distribution and population size, rankings by state do not take into account other state specific population characteristics that may affect the level of mortality. Washington, DC. Reckless and careless driving behaviors (common with teen drivers) are the main cause for collisions: While inclement weather and unforeseen health conditions may play an unavoidable role in a fraction of traffic accidents, the majority of crashes could be avoided with proper attention, adherence to traffic laws, and proper roadway and vehicle maintenance. Virginians between the ages of 21 and 35 were most likely to drive while impaired, and males are more than twice as likely as females to drive while under the influence. A Team of 40 Experienced and Knowledgeable Attorneys Ready to Fight For You. While the death rate has improved since its height in the previous century, it is still significantly higher than other developed countries, according to the CDC. Drive Smart Virginia (DSV) is a not-for-profit organization that strives to increase awareness and provoke behavioral changes in order to increase the state’s roadway safety. The DOT estimates that the total economic toll of these crashes is in excess of $230 billion each year. Federal data show young people between the ages of 21 and 24 account for one-third of drivers arrested for DWI (BJS). According to teen driver safety statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,1,830 young drivers ages 15 to 20 years old died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017. Anyone, anything, or any activity which diverts the driver’s attention from the road and surrounding environment is a dangerous distraction. The number one cause of accidents in Virginia is ____. Accident Date: Wed, 11/25/2020. Alcohol is involved in a similar number of crashes each year. Our team of attorneys at Price Benowitz are always ready and willing to provide knowledgeable legal counsel to those in need. If a driver's BAC is above 0.10, they are seven times more likely than a sober driver to be involved in a fatal accident (VeryWellMind). Reckless Driving. The Commonwealth harshly penalizes those found driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 1 The number of deaths per 100,000 total population.. In Hawaii, the odds are 1 in 649, making it the lowest risk state for animal collisions. Drivers who choose to speed assume a great deal of liability for any damages or injuries caused by their actions. In 2012, more than 33,500 people were killed in traffic collisions in the United States. In some cases, the cause of the crash is clear. § 8.01-44.5. 8 pdf icon; leading cause of death data, including firearm, homicide, and drug poisoning mortality data, and infant mortality data come from CDC WONDER and rankings and rates are based on 2017 age-adjusted death rates. Care to see how accurate you are? There are many ways that drivers can limit the number of car accident contributors. Most crashes occur at intersections because ____. When anything less than ideal conditions are present, the set speed and anything above it can become quite dangerous. Types of car accidents in Virginia include rollover crashes, T-bone accidents, sideswipe wrecks, multi-vehicle accidents and single vehicle accidents. In 2015, the number of people killed by distracted driving was 3,477; The number of injuries caused by distracting driving in 2015 was 391,000 Inattentive, or distracted driving can be due to many factors, including (but not limited to) talking on a cell phone, texting, or eating while driving. In fact, it was the least-feared household accident in the state but tops the list for fatalities due to alcohol and drug overdoses. Most accident victims who recover compensation do so through insurance claims. Fill out this form, and our attorneys will get back to you immediately to discuss your case. For instance, a driver ran a red light or failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Drunk drivers were responsible for causing an estimated 6,500 Virginia car accidents last year. The Virginia state government keeps track of the causes of car accidents in an effort to better understand how to decrease their frequency. . The after effects of car accidents can be extremely stressful financially, physically, and mentally. Auto accidents involving cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles are one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States and a major concern for Virginia. Speeding, even just a few miles over the speed limit, can wreak havoc on the life of the driver, his or her passengers, and others on the roadway. All drivers are required to carry the following minimum amount of liability insurance on their vehicles: $20,000 for property damage; $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person Rubbernecking not only causes traffic delays but also is the number one cause of accidents. Failure to yield the right of way isn’t too far behind, and these two accident causes explain a full 71% of Virginia crashes. . There are several common causes of car accidents in Virginia, including speeding, distracted driving (e.g., texting while driving), and alcohol impairment. . If convicted, even a first-time offender may find himself or herself with a criminal record, license suspension, fines, incarceration, and other penalties. 67, No. Teen drivers are among one of several groups of drivers who fall prey to this problem. If the speed is considered especially excessive, a driver may be criminally charged with reckless driving. Your Virginia auto accident attorney can explain how the other drivers’ speeding may play a role in. Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous causes of accidents in the U.S. and is the most deadly. speeding. Here is the list of top 5 causes for traffic accidents in Virginia for all age groups: Following too close: 29,551 (40%) Failure to yield: 22,799 (31%) Speeding: 7,217 (10%) Driving under the influence was a factor in roughly 33 percent of all fatal crashes in 2014. Contributing to the higher number of traffic fatalities in crashes on rural roads is the fact that many drivers believe they do not need to wear seat belts. Failure to adhere to traffic control devices and signs (e.g., failure to yield), Driving in excess of 80 miles per hour, regardless of the posted speed limit, Driving at or in excess of 20 miles per hour above the posted speed limit, Driving at a speed considered unreasonable “under the circumstances and traffic conditions at the time”, regardless of the posted speed limit, Driving at a speed considered a danger the life, limb, and property of others. accidents. Nationally, the number of road deaths rose in 2016 and 2017. Distracted driving continues to be a massive cause of deaths and injuries. The large majority of animal collisions are with deer. . However, in many other cases, the cause is up for debate. Here is the list of top 5 causes for traffic accidents in Virginia for all age groups: Does this list surprise you at all? Reporting a car accident to your insurance carrier isn’t an option – it’s a contractual duty set out in the cooperation… West Virginia also had the highest number of opioid-related deaths in the country in 2017, with a fatality rate of 49.6 deaths per 100,000 people. A basic disregard for Virginia traffic laws impacts a driver’s ability to properly react when faced with an unexpected situation on the roadway. The posted speed limit for a given stretch of roadway is determined based on a number of factors, including sight distance, roadway curvature, area zoning, roadway width, the number of traffic lanes, and more. In an attempt to punish and deter such practices, law enforcement will issue citations for such infractions leading to fines, demerit points, and other penalties. As a Virginia auto accident lawyer can tell you, cell phone usage is not the only distraction that increases the risk of a traffic collision. If asked, many people would cite accident reasons like aggressive driving, cell-phone use, distracted driving, following too closely and more. These claims were most likely in West Virginia, with one in 37 drivers making an insurance claim based on this kind of accident. Like other states, auto insurance coverage is mandatory for all Virginia drivers. Surprisingly, the vast majority of these crashes occurred under clear weather conditions, and well over half occurred during daylight hours. Virginia Crash and VMT Data - Virginia Traffic Crash Facts Population - Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service (University of Virginia) United States Death Rate - Injury Facts (National Safety Council) Licensed Drivers (includes learner's permits) and Registered Vehicles - Dept of Motor Vehicles Virginia Motor Vehicle Statistics (1983-2019) 2017 birth data come from National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. If you find tailgaters frustrating, then you have good reason to be concerned about their actions as a full 40% of all Virginia crashes are caused by tailgating. The astounding fact is that the vast majority of these incidents were in some way preventable. We gathered a large database of info about fatal car accidents since year 1975 - including exact location, maps, summary graphs, details about each incident and more. As reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 9,158 fatal traffic crashes and 10,076 people killed in the U.S. in 2013 as a result of alcohol-impaired driving. 2 point turn. The number one cause of death for teens ____. It provides a comprehensive statistical overview of traffic crashes occuring in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reports that in 2012 nearly 9,000 alcohol-related traffic crashes occurred in the state, causing injury to more than 5,800 people and killing almost 230. Civil litigation attorney in Virginia and is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. very pleased with the outcome . All Rights Reserved. According to the United States Department of Transportation’s (U.S. The insurance industry is a major supporter of anti-drunk driving and seatbelt usage campaigns. Nearly 400,000 more were injured in such crashes. If you have had anything to drink, take a taxi or give your keys to a … . The Virginia Traffic Crash Facts publication results from the cooperative efforts of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Department of State Police and the Virginia Department of Transportation. The following article outlines the Virginia car accident settlement process and the timeline for significant events. The criteria necessary for speeding to result in a reckless driving charge are given: Speed-related crashes in Virginia in 2012 resulted in more than 14,000 injuries and over 300 deaths. The organization reports that approximately 80 percent of car crashes in Virginia are related to some form of distracted driving. See our infographic for more details. Listed here are a few common driving distractions: More than 3,000 people were killed in automobile crashes in 2011 as a result of distracted drivers. While some minor violations may go unnoticed, others can cause serious collisions resulting in harm or death to the driver and others. DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for individuals under the age of 35. “The most common causes of accidents resulting in death are drunk driving (40%), speeding (30%), and irresponsible driving (33%).” –》NO, those are NOT … Virginia Car Accident Death Rates by Age Group. ... Carmelita R. Samples, 50, and one child killed in crash on I-81 in Shenandoah County, Virginia. . Out of concern for public safety and to help reduce the cost of crashes, insurers support safe driving initiatives. When someone has been injured or killed in a motor-vehicle collision in Virginia, the accident victim and their family members are left with medical bills, lost income, and other costs. And according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 390 deaths a year on average are attributed to drowning in a swimming pool or at a spa. Did the car accident happen because one driver’s tail lights were out, or did it happen because the other driver was following too closely? closed. Around 800 people per day are injured in a drunk driving crash and 30 people die (NHTSA). Cause of the Accident. Two other particular problems on rural roads are highway hypnosis which may occur when driving for some time in … If you don’t drive carefully, and you may end up in a needless car accident. In Virginia, the death rate for occupants in motor vehicle crashes of all ages is 6.8 deaths per 100,000 population. Where an accident results in a person's injury or death they must immediately give notice to a law enforcement officer under Virginia Code, Section 46.2-371. State troopers note that 732 crashes in 2014 were due to inattentive driving, which was nearly 20 percent of all auto accidents investigated by CSP. The risk that an impaired driver takes when getting behind the wheel of a car not only affects him or her, personally, but every other driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, and other person he or she passes along the roadway. The goal of DSV is to reduce the frequency of traffic accidents which result in injury and death. This designated speed is given for ideal roadway conditions. That’s … It's an unbelievable statistic: According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4. Care to see how accurate you are? Our Virginia auto accident lawyers believe that this responsibility extends beyond the criminal court system and into the world of civil justice, where such individuals can be held to answer for the harms and suffering they have wrought, and where the message will be clear that driving under the influence is not and will not be tolerated. 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