Despite lockdown from the pandemic and fewer cars on the road, the United States saw a significant increase in auto accidents and fatalities in 2020. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 38,824 traffic-related deaths in 2020 were reported, and it was the deadliest year for car crashes since 2007. The Covid 19 Pandemic brought with it an increase in dangerous driving patterns.
Three signifant factors lead to rising fatalities: drunk driving, speeding, and failure to wear seatbelts. Of eight thousand six hundred and forty-three (8,643) alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2020, one thousand six hundred and thirty-eight (1,638) were also unrestrained and speeding. Eleven thousand six hundred fifty-four alcohol-impaired driving fatalities nationwide (11,644) occurred in 2020, accounting for 30% of all traffic fatalities. According to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), that’s an increase of about nine percent from 2019. Car accidents increased despite a thirteen percent (13%) decrease in cars and trucks on the road.
In March of 2022, the NHTSA published the Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2020 report. The data ranks each state according to the number of automobile accidents and the cause of every car crash in every state. Despite having less than six hundred thousand (600,000) people in Wyoming, Wyoming came in at fifteenth (15) in the nation for alcohol-related fatalities. In 2020 Wyoming had one hundred and twenty-seven (127) fatal car accidents. Of those deadly car crashes, forty-four (44) or thirty-four percent (34%) of all fatal accidents on the roads resulted from drunk driving.
Wyoming Car Accident Lawyer with a Heart
Personal Injury Attorney R. Michael Shickich has seen too many drunk driving fatal car crashes on Wyoming streets. His law firm has over thirty (30) years of experience practicing law In Casper. Attorney Shickich established the Injury Law Firm in Casper to help families hurt in car accidents throughout the state, including nearby Gillette and Riverton. Attorney Michael blogged about a fatal car crash involving two young siblings near Powell just last week. There were no preliminary reports of alcohol-related drunk driving but losing a life on our roads and highways need to stop. As a lawyer, Michael has devoted his practice to helping those hurt in personal injury accidents, and drunk driving crashes get back on their feet.
If you or a loved one have been hurt in an automobile accident, please call Michael Shickich to help you get back on your feet. We are always available and may be reached online or by phone at 307-266-5297(LAWS)
Types of Car Accidents We Regularly See in Wyoming
- Trucking Accidents
- DUI/DWI
- Automobile Accidents
- Commercial Vehicle Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Tractor-trailer / semi-truck collisions
Wyoming Settlements/Verdicts Obtained by Attorney Michael
MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS:
- $3 Million settlement for severely injured client involved in a head-on collision
- $975,000 settlement for a young man who suffered severe aorta injuries in a head-on collision with a drunk driver
- $829,000 judgment for a married couple who were injured when their stopped vehicle was rear-ended
- $400,000 settlement for a passenger who sustained multiple serious injuries when an uninsured driver struck the vehicle in which she was traveling head-on
- $300,000 settlement for a young woman who sustained neck and shoulder injuries in a collision involving a government worker under the influence of alcohol while working
- $300,000 settlement for a passenger who suffered a severe knee injury in a vehicle roll-over crash
- $250,000 policy limits settlement for a motorcyclist who was injured when a driver failed to yield the right of way
- $180,000 settlement for a driver who was injured when a drunk driver rear-ended his vehicle
- $100,000 policy limits settlement for a driver who sustained a knee injury in a collision caused by a drunk driver