Traffic fatalities are down, yet McKinney man dies in recent accident

April 27, 2013

Even though NHTSA statistics show that traffic fatalities seem to be on the decline, fatal automobile accidents still continue to happen in Collin County, Texas. In the case of a recent accident in McKinney, Texas, a man was stopped on the road waiting in his Ford Fiesta to turn off Highway 5, when a pickup truck hit the rear of his car and pushed it into the oncoming traffic. A truck going south hit the passenger side of the Fiesta. Tragically, the victim involved died at the scene of the accident. Some residents have since voiced concerns that the city had previously been asked to lower the speed limit in that area and install a traffic light. They feel that this fatal accident is proof that changes need to be made to enhance traffic safety.

State statistics show a decline in fatalities

According to the NHTSA, in Collin County Texas there were 40 automobile related fatalities in 2007, 40 in 2008, 44 in 2009 and only 34 in 2010. That is a reduction of 23 percent from 2009 to 2010. In the entire state of Texas in the year 2000, there were 3,254 traffic fatalities as compared to 2,728 in 2010. Even more significant than the actual reduction of 526 fatalities is the fact that the fatality rate per hundred million dropped significantly from 1.72 in the year 2000 to 1.28 in 2010. As both the population and number of registered motor vehicles increased during the decade, the fatality rate decreased.

Texas working hard to keep fatalities to a minimum

The Texas Department of Transportation utilizes safety awareness campaigns to help residents become educated on the things they can do to increase their safety while traveling by motor vehicle. Their website promotes tips for traffic safety and provides helpful information on a variety of traffic issues including safety for child passengers, information on drunk driving, routes for getting to school safely, and information for teens. In addition, the Texas DOT has put more than a billion dollars towards crash-reducing highway projects. Their statistics show a downward trend in fatalities with a decline since 2003 of 19 percent.

Helping families of automobile fatality victims

While these statistics show that auto fatalities seem to be on the decline, when the victim of a tragic accident leaves family behind, there are often many questions left unanswered. The family not only has to pick up the pieces of their lives but also cope with unexpected expenses. When an accident has resulted in a death, there are many issues that come into play and it can be difficult for the family of the victim to feel that justice has been served. Many will get help from a personal injury attorney. Family members of the victim should understand that they have the right to pursue compensation.

Without the aid of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney, the complex issues involved can quickly get away from a person. An attorney that understands how the law works in regards to wrongful death suits in Texas can assist a family in this situation in getting the compensation they are entitled to.

Article provided by The Law Office Of Vern D. Richards
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