Study Examines Where Car Accident Deaths Occurring in Greatest Numbers
Oct 5, 2023 by Dodson & Hooks, APLC
Longtime residents of Baton Rouge have seen the city’s highways become filled with traffic. This has led to congestion, and it can take people much longer to get across town. The increase in vehicles has also led to an increase in the potential for a motor vehicle accident. More cars and trucks on roadways make it more important for motorists to observe safe driving habits. One person not paying attention can have a serious impact on the other drivers in the area.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), conducted a study using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2009 accident data from the 50 largest cities in the U.S. This study compared accident fatality rates in cities and rural areas in an effort to learn where motor vehicle accident deaths were happening. The results were surprising.
Based on the data, the motor vehicle accident death rate for the cities was nearly 8.2 people per 100,000 residents. The national average was 11.1 per 100,000 people. This means that fewer people were dying in crashes in the big cities. Nearly 75 percent of the 50 metro areas were below the national average.
One item that may be of concern to officials is the number of young people that are dying in these accidents. In cities, those aged 15 to 24 had a death rate of 10.9 per 100,000 residents, an extremely high number. National rates jumped even further, with this age group resulting in 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people.
Another trend noted by the survey was that accident rates increased in southern cities. Three cities (Orlando, Memphis and Miami) were ranked among the 50 that were examined by researchers. They attributed these higher rates to a sprawl effect.
In many other locations, cities are pinpoint locations, with specifically defined boundaries. The southern cities in the study were thought to have high crash rates because the cities themselves were becoming larger. Bigger cities mean more miles of roadway, more distracted drivers and more chances for accidents.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the options that may be available to you. It is important to talk to someone who has handled these types of cases before to understand the true impact of your injuries.
Insurance companies are not on your side. They are trying to settle these cases for as little money as possible. If you agree to a settlement and later discover that your injuries will require more treatment, you may not be able to recover compensation for these costs.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), conducted a study using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2009 accident data from the 50 largest cities in the U.S. This study compared accident fatality rates in cities and rural areas in an effort to learn where motor vehicle accident deaths were happening. The results were surprising.
Urban versus Rural
Based on the data, the motor vehicle accident death rate for the cities was nearly 8.2 people per 100,000 residents. The national average was 11.1 per 100,000 people. This means that fewer people were dying in crashes in the big cities. Nearly 75 percent of the 50 metro areas were below the national average.
One item that may be of concern to officials is the number of young people that are dying in these accidents. In cities, those aged 15 to 24 had a death rate of 10.9 per 100,000 residents, an extremely high number. National rates jumped even further, with this age group resulting in 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people.
Southern Metro Areas
Another trend noted by the survey was that accident rates increased in southern cities. Three cities (Orlando, Memphis and Miami) were ranked among the 50 that were examined by researchers. They attributed these higher rates to a sprawl effect.
In many other locations, cities are pinpoint locations, with specifically defined boundaries. The southern cities in the study were thought to have high crash rates because the cities themselves were becoming larger. Bigger cities mean more miles of roadway, more distracted drivers and more chances for accidents.
Consult a Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the options that may be available to you. It is important to talk to someone who has handled these types of cases before to understand the true impact of your injuries.
Insurance companies are not on your side. They are trying to settle these cases for as little money as possible. If you agree to a settlement and later discover that your injuries will require more treatment, you may not be able to recover compensation for these costs.
