Do you know someone who has been killed in a vehicle accident? This can be a traumatic experience for the entire family and one from which various family members, such as children, may never be able to fully recover. Unfortunately, despite advancing technology and a growing range of regulations and laws that are designed to curb the devastating impact of these accidents, fatal accidents are on the rise in the United States. Research shows that a major spike has occurred with regard to fatal accidents when compared with the outcomes of 29 different nations around the world. Only five of those 29 countries saw a significant jump in traffic deaths between 2010 and 2016. The highest rate of increase was home in the United States with a 13.5% jump.

The United States was also home to the biggest spike in pedestrian deaths during that same time period. Cyclist deaths surged by nearly 35% and pedestrian deaths went up by nearly 40%. Two primary factors are allegedly tied to the surge in accident fatalities in the United States. The first has to do with more cars being on the road due to a better economy, and the second has to do with distracted driving. The research study found that distracted driving is more prominent as well as prevalent in the United States when compared with other countries. The United States have the highest rate of road fatalities per capita as well.

Across the world, traffic fatalities in 2016 dropped by 3.6% compared with 2010. However, that wasn’t the case for the United States. If you have recently lost a loved one in a serious accident caused by another person’s negligent behavior, you may be eligible to pursue compensation in a lawsuit.

Traffic deaths affect people not just in San Diego, but all over the state and country. The loss of a family member in a traffic death accident can send ripple effects for years.