In 2020 and the onset of a global pandemic, many aspects of life changed overnight. People began to work from home, and schools conducted classes over the internet. People went to stores less frequently, and there was less need to drive a vehicle from one place to another. Much of life is now back to normal, and many are commuting and driving as much as they did before COVID-19 became a worldwide concern. However, there are concerns that people may be worse drivers now than they were before the pandemic.
Statistics indicate troubling trends and possibly indicate that drivers may have more bad habits now than they did in previous years. Traffic fatalities are on the rise, and trends are not going in a positive direction. In fact, there were almost 43,000 traffic fatalities in 2022, which represents an increase of almost 6,000 since 2019. A return to normal life has led to a return to high numbers of traffic fatalities.
Why do these accidents happen?
There are various reasons why these types of accidents continue to happen. Experts say that the amount of driving is essentially back to normal, but fatal accidents are happening at an even higher rate than before. It is possible that the pandemic caused a decrease in caution and focus on safety. Some believe that drivers picked up dangerous habits, such as driving at excessive rates of speed, during the pandemic when there were not as many people sharing the road and fewer police monitoring driver behavior.
Drivers may be more prone to go over the speed limit, and there are reasons to believe that fewer are wearing seatbelts. More drivers may now be operating their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Distracted driving is also a serious concern due to both cell phone use and the use of in-car infotainment systems.
Who is to blame?
There are many reasons why accidents can happen, but if your accident was the result of the reckless or negligent actions of another person, you may have legal options available to you. The Missouri civil justice system provides you an opportunity to seek recompense and recover, as well as hold the responsible party accountable for what happened to you. If you believe that another driver made a decision that put you in physical, emotional and financial harm, you may benefit from seeking guidance regarding the legal options available to you.
