The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives. It's also had a noticeable impact on the number of traffic accidents, with most states recording a major drop in the number of fatalities.
Spaulding Injury Law, a personal injury attorney in Cumming, GA, reports that a change was expected but the marked dip in fatalities has taken even the experts by surprise.
What Impact has Coronavirus Had on Fatalities in the US?
With many states operating on stay-at-home orders, fatalities have fallen in many states known for high rates of death on their roads.
At least 20 states reported a significant drop in the number of fatalities. Spaulding Injury Law points out that the big winner is California, which saw an 84% drop in fatalities after stay-at-home orders were implemented.
In short, coronavirus has been positive when it comes to road fatalities.
Why the Fall in Road Fatalities?
The answer may seem obvious, but Spaulding Injury Law urges lawmakers to reflect on why fatalities were so high in the first place.
The primary reason behind a lack of accidents is fewer cars on the road. US infrastructure has failed to keep up with the number of cars on the road at any one time.
Cars are bigger than ever before, and lower fuel costs mean people are driving more than ever before. Spaulding Injury Law explains that unless something is done to allow America's lagging infrastructure to catch up, accidents are going to become increasingly more serious.
A Momentary Drop
Road safety experts have hailed the decline in fatal road traffic accidents in the US. However, they're cautioning lawmakers against complacency. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided the country with a rare opportunity for the nation's roads to breathe. As states reopen, though, observers expect the numbers to rise again.
Most importantly of all, Spaulding Injury Law says, lawmakers should see this as an opportunity to demonstrate what's possible.
Through firm and decisive action, the coronavirus pandemic has shown that it's possible to make the country's roads safer.
What about Minor Accidents?
All types of accidents have seen a decline since many states issued stay-at-home orders. Although the number of minor accidents has decreased, they're quickly rising again as businesses reopen and Americans return to the workplace.
Spaulding Injury Law widely expects cases to take longer than ever to resolve. Due to the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of active cases have been suspended. With courts only recently returning to work, they're cautioning their clients on potential delays regarding their cases.
Many experts predict that accidents of all kinds will spike during the summer months as many Americans leave their homes and look to go on vacation. Predictions point towards a relatively small window between lockdown orders being lifted and children returning to school in the fall as a reason for this.
Although the drop in road traffic accidents is predicted to be temporary, road safety professionals are calling on lawmakers to take advantage of the opportunity to make the nation's roads safer. Whether they heed the call, only time will tell.
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