Issues such as product recalls, defective parts and crash-safety test results get the majority of the press, but the most common cause of car crashes in New York City are drivers themselves.
That’s right, drivers are their own worst enemies.
Unfortunately, drivers do not bear the burden alone for their negligence. Passengers, pedestrians and cyclists are often injured or killed as a result of driver negligence, leaving families without breadwinners, parents, siblings and children.
According to collision reports compiled by the NYPD, there were more than 37,000 accidents as recently as 2014 which caused injuries, including:
- 16,764 injured drivers
- 19,170 injured passengers
- 10,965 injured pedestrians
- 3,917 injured cyclists
That is a staggering amount of serious injuries and deaths caused by car accidents. When those 37,000 crashes were broken down into individual categories, the leading causes were:
- Inattentive driving
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drowsy driving
What can you do to protect yourself and your loved ones? The only thing you can control is your own behavior behind the wheel. Don’t get behind the wheel if you have been drinking, make sure you are well rested, observe the posted speed limits and make sure to be a defensive driver.
Beyond that, there is nothing you can do. You cannot force others to be safer drivers. In the event you are injured by a negligent driver, it is in your best interest to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer from Block O’Toole & Murphy.