Due to recent figures that indicate a rise in traffic deaths, the National Safety Council is calling for a number of new regulations to make the roads safer. The NSC is calling for all cell phone use to be banned in automobiles as well as a three-tiered driver licensing system for motorists under the age of 21.
According to NSC estimates, the number of motor vehicle deaths in 2016 rose by 6 percent over 2015. This is backed up by data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which indicated that there was an 8 percent increase in the number of fatal accidents in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015.
The increase in deadly crashes has been attributed to reduced gas prices and busier roadways, but the NSC also did a survey that found that many people are engaging in riskier driving practices. Nearly half of survey participants stated that they text and drive. Fully 10 percent of those who participated in the survey admitted to driving while intoxicated, and half of those said they had been in an accident while intoxicated.
When someone is involved in a wreck, they will often be able to obtain compensation for expenses related to the crash from an insurance company. If they were not responsible for the accident, they will normally collect this compensation from the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Insurance companies will frequently attempt to get people to agree to a low level of compensation that may not cover all of the damages. A lawyer could help a client negotiate with an insurance provider and obtain equitable compensation.