Nevada Sees Spike In Vehicle Related Deaths

Car Crashes in Nevada

The National Safety Council released a report detailing the statistics for vehicle related deaths in 2018. The report states that for the third consecutive year, the death toll has reached 40,000 deaths. Nationally, the deaths from car crashes has risen 14 percent from just four years ago.

How Deadly Are Crashes In Nevada?

According to the National Safety Council, there were 331 vehicle related deaths in 2018. This is a 9 percent increase from the previous year, the highest in a decade for Nevada.

Nevada was only one of six states to see an increase over 5.8 percent in vehicle related deaths. Some states, like Maine, saw a decrease of over 10 percent in fatal car crashes in 2018.

Why are car crashes so deadly in Nevada?

Not wearing a seat belt is one of the reasons cited by law enforcement for the high death-toll. In Nevada, this is only a secondary infraction. This means that officers may only cite drivers if they have been pulled over for another infraction.

Other reasons for the high death toll may be related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In Clark County alone, over 60 percent of fatalities were the fault of impaired drivers.

How to reduce vehicle related deaths

Maine saw the most significant decrease in vehicle related deaths in 2018. A 26 percent drop in fatalities. What can Nevada learn from Maine in this regard?

In Maine, seat belt enforcement is a taken more seriously than in Nevada. Failure to abide by safety-belt laws in Maine is considered a primary offense. While crashes and injuries may still be common risks, wearing a seat belt can reduce the high number of fatalities in Nevada.

What to do after a car crash

Car crashes can be incredibly stressful events but going through your check-list of what to do can make sure that all of your bases are covered. Call emergency services if needed. Pull off the road to somewhere safe if possible and exchange information. Make sure you have an accurate account of what happened — pictures, videos, and accurate descriptions will help with your insurance claim later on.

If you or a loved one is involved in a car crash through no fault of your own, it is important to have Eric Blank Injury Attorneys on your side to ensure that all of your needs are taken care of.

Get a free case review and consultation today!