The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released the  Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Quarter of 2021 on September 2, 2021. The report estimated that 8,730 people died in motor vehicle crashes during the first quarter of 2021. This is a 10.5 percent increase from the 7,900 fatalities that were projected for the first quarter of 2020.

The NHTSA reported that driving declined during the first quarter of 2021 by 2.1 percent or about 14.9 billion miles. However, fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increased to 1.26 fatalities per 100 million VMT, up from the projected rate of 1.12 fatalities during the same time last year.

Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s Acting Administrator said, “We must address the tragic loss of life we saw on the roads in 2020 by taking a transformational and collaborative approach to safety. Everyone – including those who design, operate, build, and use the road system – shares responsibility for road safety. We are working closely with our safety partners to address risky driving behaviors such as speeding, impaired driving, and failing to buckle up.”

The NHTSA also released on September 2, 2021, the 10^th edition of Countermeasures That Work. The report supports a proactive, equitable safe system approach to eliminate fatalities on the nation’s roads and addresses the safety of all who use the roadways, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers. “This tool includes information on strategies that can help prevent destructive behaviors like impaired driving, or encourage positive habits like wearing a seat belt,” Dr. Cliff said.

The most frequent types of vehicle accidents include head-on collisions, T-bone collisions, rear-end collisions, rollover accidents, and side-swipe accidents.

• Head-on collisions are particularly dangerous because of the combined force of the two vehicles. The NHTSA reports that 2 percent of head-on collisions cause fatalities.
• “T-bone” collisions occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle, most frequently at intersections. The NHTSA reports that 18 percent of “T-bone” accidents cause fatalities.
• Rear-end collisions are particularly common in multi-vehicle accidents. The NHTSA reports that there are approximately 2,000 deaths per year in rear-end collisions.
• Rollover accidents occur when drivers take corners too quickly and don’t adjust their speed for the driving conditions. The NHTSA reports that 35 percent of passenger deaths occur in rollover accidents.
• Side-swipe accidents can be very serious if there is a vehicle occupant on the side of the vehicle that gets struck. The NHTSA reports that about 2,500 fatalities occur because of side-swipe accidents.

“If you or a loved one is injured in an accident because of the negligence of another driver, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. after seeking medical attention. We are available to assist you 24/7, and there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board-Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.

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