We understand that a car wreck can turn your life upside down. Unfortunately, these accidents are not a rare occurrence on Louisiana’s roads. Learn what contributes to The Bayou State’s car accidents and how an auto accident attorney can help you if you are injured.
Louisiana Car Accidents Happen with Frequency
According to a Consumer Affairs report, Louisiana recently ranked as one of the US’s worst states to drive on. The report weighed factors like the locals’ attitude toward roads, road spending per capita, and pavement roughness to compare US states for the best and worst roads in the country. Louisiana ranked as the eighth worst state according to these factors. Unfortunately, poor roads contribute to Louisiana’s car accidents and related fatalities.
Louisiana Car Crash Statistics
Louisiana’s Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that 2021’s highway fatalities surpassed the previous record for most deaths in 2007. In 2021, Louisiana suffered 914 car accidents and 997 highway fatalities.
Risky driving habits are the leading cause of Louisiana’s highway fatalities. Between 2017 and 2020, statewide crash data statistics revealed that 40% of the state’s highway fatalities involved drinking and driving. These high numbers on Louisiana’s highways allude to deeper problems underlying these statistics.
Louisiana Car Accident Causes
While alcohol and drunk driving may be the leading cause of car accidents in Louisiana, other issues factor into the state’s high rate of car accidents. Two other essential factors leading to serious car crashes include speeding and distracted driving.
Speeding Is a Major Factor in Louisiana Car Accidents and Fatalities
Across the US, speeding is a significant factor in the cause of auto accidents and car accident fatalities. While the numbers vary between states, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all roadway fatalities in 2020. An average of more than 30 people in the US died each day in 2020 related to speeding car crashes.
Car accidents are categorized as speed related if the driver is:
- Charged with a speed-related offense
- Driving too fast for the roadway conditions
- Racing
- Driving faster than the speed limit, and the speed contributed to the accident
Distracted Driving Is on the Rise
Another common cause of Louisiana’s roadway accidents and fatalities is distracted driving. Cell phone usage is commonly associated with distracted driving errors. However, other distracting factors include anything that takes the driver’s mind off of driving, their hands off the wheel, or their eyes off the road. Examples include:
- Passengers who yell or argue in the vehicle, including children
- Eating and drinking while driving
- Talking with passengers
- Using GPS navigation systems
If the activity diverts attention away from driving, it is considered distracted driving. In Louisiana, 23,010 people were injured from distracted driving just in 2020.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Alexandria, Louisiana
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, you have legal rights to a civil lawsuit. Car accidents can be debilitating, both physically and monetarily. If a driver was doing something they shouldn’t have — like driving under the influence, speeding, or driving while distracted — they might be liable for your injuries and damages. The Law Office of Brock Duke can help. Our car accident attorney can answer your questions and determine your legal options for recovering damages from the negligent party responsible for your injuries.
Contact the Law Office of Brock Duke to arrange your free car accident consultation and have your questions answered.
