Based on estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2014 had the lowest rate of highway fatalities on record. This is in line with a continuous decline in traffic fatalities going back to 1985, and the rate of decline seems to be accelerating. Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicates that traffic deaths have declined by about a third in the last three years.
The reduction in automotive fatalities has generally been attributed to improvements in safety features in cars. Seat belts, air bags and collision avoidance systems have all worked to lower the chances an accident will occur and lessen the severity if one does.
However, in spite of all the progress that has been made, death as a result of a car crash is still one of the most common causes of death as tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on data from 2013, people have a one in 77 chance of dying due to a car crash. Individuals are equally as likely to die due to firearms, but they are more likely to die of poisoning, with odds of one in 53.
Although the number of vehicle-related fatalities has been on a continuous decline for the last several years, people are still frequently involved in car accidents, and serious injuries can result. Injured victims often face high medical expenses and in some cases are unable to return to work for prolonged periods, further harming their financial situation. In the event that an accident was caused by a motorist who was texting and driving or was negligent in another manner, a personal injury attorney might assist an injured victim in seeking compensation for those and other losses through a lawsuit filed against the at-fault driver.