Accident News

Motor Vehicle Crash Remains a Leading Cause of Death

In 2003, while the fatality rate dropped to a record low of 1.48 per 100 million vehicle miles of travel and the number of fatalities dropped nearly one percent from the previous year, there were approximately 6.3 million crashes reported to law enforcement agencies, more than 42,000 people killed, and 2.9 million people injured. Motor vehicle crash remains a leading cause of death for almost every age group in the United States. In addition to the personal toll on our nation’s families, these crashes create an economic cost to society of an estimated $230.6 billion annually, or an average of $820 for every person living in the United States.

In July 2003, the agency published its first Vehicle Safety Rulemaking and Supporting Research Priorities Plan. This updates that effort and outlines the regulatory projects for the period 2005 to 2009 the agency has determined offer the greatest potential for saving lives and preventing injury.

These projected regulatory actions complement the agency’s concurrent efforts to provide effective consumer information to assist those purchasing vehicles and to promote safer driving through traffic safety programs.

Contact our Washington Accident Lawyers if you have ever experienced a personal injury and think others are at fault for the accident.

	Did You Know?
	Blood Alcohol levels of 1.0 in a crash can be a criminal charge. State laws in 31 states make it a criminal offense to operate a motor vehicle at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 g/dl. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have adopted 0.08 g/dl. Two states and Puerto Rico do not have illegal per se BAC levels.