A new research study indicates that an inappropriate number of driving safety laws or lack of enforcement of these could help to explain the increases in fatalities around the country. The new report ranks safety laws around the country and identified that the best states for driving included:

  • Washington DC
  • Louisiana
  • Rhode Island
  • Delaware
  • Washington State
  • Oregon

However, those with the worst record included:

  • South Dakota
  • Missouri
  • Wyoming
  • Arizona
  • Montana

Some of the safety laws that could potentially have the biggest impact have to do with wearing a seatbelt and to what extent officers are able to enforce a seatbelt rule. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has already shared that nearly 28,000 individuals died in crashes the first 9 months of 2016 which is an approximate 8% increase from 2015. Those people who are hurt in preventable accidents may be able to recover compensation, but their life may never be the same again. For family members who have lost a loved one due to an accident caused by negligence face many challenges which might encourage them to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Despite many advances in safety technology and laws designed to curb dangerous behavior, highway fatalities are still occurring across the roadways of America in very high numbers.

Many regulators and policy advocates are exploring ways that the legislature may be able to help curb the dangerous behaviors behind the wheel that contribute to human error. Human error is still the most common cause of vehicle accidents in California and across the country. Unfortunately, human error such as distracted riving, drunk driving or drowsy driving can claim a person’s attention and easily lead to a catastrophic accident that injures or kills others. These accidents can also form the basis of a personal injury claim when a victim or a deceased victim’s family members come forward with an attempt to recover compensation.