A new report published by the National Safety Council, NSC, finds that the third leading cause of death in the United States is now preventable accidents. This category rose about 10% over the previous year. According to the data, more than 161,000 people died from preventable injuries in 2016. A person is killed every three minutes due to a preventable accident. The top two causes of death are heart disease and cancer. An NSC representative stated that these deaths could all have been prevented. These types of deaths have been steadily on the rise since 2009.

Types of Preventable Accidents
There are many various types of accidents that are considered preventable. Vehicle accidents, drug overdoses, falls, choking, and drowning are some types of preventable accidents. Of these, vehicle accidents are among the most significant because they continue to increase at a steady rate. Vehicle accident deaths are a serious cause for alarm. Although our vehicles continue to become safer to drive, the number of deaths on our nation’s roadways are climbing.

Distracted Driving
One of the most common causes of vehicle accidents is distracted driving. The increased use of cell phones and smart phones for texting and applications has made driving more dangerous. California law prohibits the use of handheld devices as well as texting while driving, but it still continues to be a problem.

In an effort to discourage distracted driving, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) partnered with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to launch an adult distracted driver campaign. The year-long effort will focus on educating drivers to maintain attention while behind the wheel. The campaign will include at least 600 traffic safety presentations and 100 enforcement operations across the state. The program was funded through a grant from OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA. The NHTSA also has a national campaign called “Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks”.

Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents continue to be the cause of serious injuries and deaths. California law allows accident victims to seek compensation even if they were partially at fault. If you or a family member was injured or a loved one was killed in a car accident, you may need to take legal action. You might be entitled to compensation for damages including money for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, medication expenses, and other costs such as pain and suffering and lost wages due to the accident. In the event of a wrongful death, family members may recover funeral costs and money for the loss of life. Vehicle accidents can result in a lifelong disability.

Before you talk to the insurance company, speak to a qualified personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will review your case and help you navigate the system. You and your family should not have to suffer financially because of an accident that was caused by distracted driving or some other form of negligence. Contact the experienced legal team at the Law Office of Patrick G. Shea to schedule a consultation to discuss your accident today.

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