Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
Fifteen hundred fewer lives were lost on the nation’s roads during the first 11 months of last year, according to the National Safety Council.
As our Palm Beach personal injury lawyers recently reported on our Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog the 2,430 traffic fatalities recorded last year in Florida were the fewest reported since 1978.
Nationwide through November, there were 31,740 traffic fatalities, down four percent from the 33,180 reported during the first 11 months of 2009. That follows a 9 percent decrease over 2008 and a 10 percent decrease over 2007.
Still, more than 3.1 million motorists were seriously injured. Cost of accidents through November, including serious injury and death, was $216.5 billion. As a point of reference, ABC News is reporting concerns that the cost of treating cancer could soar to $158 billion a year by 2020.
While state after state has been quick to credit proactive law enforcement for the downturn in traffic fatalities, many experts point to the struggling economy as the primary factor. And, in fact, the NSC data shows traffic fatalities began increasing again last year in about a dozen states, mostly in the Midwest, as the country climbs out of the Great Recession.
The NSC reports that Florida had 2,128 traffic fatalities through the first 11 months of last year, a 10 percent reduction over the 2,363 recorded in 2009 and a 22 percent reduction over the 2,728 reported in 2008.
States with the highest two-year reduction included Louisiana (-30%), Mississippi (-23 %), Florida (-22%) and Oregon (-22%).
South Dakota (+17%) recorded the highest two-year gain.
The Fort Palm Beach accident lawyers at Freeman & Mallard are dedicated to helping motorists who have been injured in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and the Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce areas. Call today for a free consultation. 1-800-529-2368.