Though 2005 holds the record high of more than 43,000 traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), deaths as the result of auto accidents in the first quarter of this year rose 13.5 percent compared with the same quarter last year.

Automobile Accident Fatalities

A little over 7,600 people died from January through March 2012. Last year, that number was closer to 6,700. This surge in fatalities is the second-largest quarterly increase in traffic deaths since 1975. The NHTSA has been tracking data regarding auto accident fatalities since 1975 and their reports have shown a regular up and down effect.

Top Reasons for Accidents from the NHTSA

The NHTSA has speculated that the first quarter of 2012 may have resulted in more people driving than normal during the winter because of the unseasonably warm weather. Nationwide, people drove 9.7 billion miles in January, February, and March, up 1.4 percent from 2011. There also seem to be two particular types of accidents that occur the majority of the time; veering off of the road and crossing into an opposing lane comprise about 55 percent of all fatal crashes.

If this seems like a lot of statistics with no point of reference, here’s some perspective from the MSN auto blog: “More people died on U.S. roads in three months than all the U.S. soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan over a decade.”

Turn to Femminineo Law

While overall there is still a decline in fatal car crashes in this country, there is no end in sight, and that also means there are families who are losing loved ones every day and not seeing the compensation to which they are entitled. David Femminineo has recovered over $50 million for the victims of auto accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. Contact him today for your consultation.