California Second in the Nation in Traffic Deaths According to NHTSA Report

Surge in Traffic Fatalities in California

Amid current surge, award-winning California car accident lawyers can help those seeking compensation

SAN LUIS OBISPO , CA, USA, May 27, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As California car accident lawyers James McKiernan Lawyers advances through its 40th year of service to personal injury clients and their families, a grim statistic was recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In 2021, the United States recorded the highest level of traffic fatalities in

16 years, with a 10.5% increase in deaths nationwide. These figures, published by the Washington, D.C.-based government agency (DOT HS 813 298), are the early estimates of all U.S. traffic fatalities for 2021.

Last year, the U.S. experienced close to 43,000 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes, the largest number of traffic fatalities since 2005. More than 85% of all U.S. states showed an uptick in traffic fatalities, with highly populated states including Florida, Texas and California incurring the highest amount of fatal accidents in 2021.

The report reveals that several fatality categories show double-digit increases over the year prior. According to the NHTSA, total fatalities on urban roads increased from 21,940 in 2020 to 25,411 in 2021, an increase of 16%.

Deaths on rural interstate and urban arterial roads were both up by 15%, particularly during out-of-state travel (also up 15%). Multi-vehicle crashes rose 16%, with persons in the 35-to-44 age group affected at a 15% greater rate than the previous year. Pedestrian deaths increased 13%.

Some of the 2021 increase could be correlated to increased vehicle traffic as intrastate and interstate travel resumed after the pandemic. Vehicle miles traveled by drivers increased by 11%, or about 325 billion miles, last year.

California Accidents and Injuries
Traffic deaths in California were up 10.7% overall in 2021, according to NHTSA. This tracks with the nationwide surge, and it’s a concerning trend for California car accident lawyers and California wrongful death lawyers.

With more than 27 million licensed drivers, California has significantly more drivers than any other state. NHTSA’s 2021 reporting shows California ranks second highest in the country for traffic accident fatalities. Traffic deaths, recorded at 3,847 in 2020, jumped to 4,258 fatalities in 2021 in the state.

More About James McKiernan Lawyers
For 40 years, James McKiernan Lawyers has been making California safer by holding people and companies responsible for negligence. Founder and principal attorney James McKiernan and his team of knowledgeable attorneys have handled more than 30,000 cases and secured more than $300 million in compensation for personal injury victims.

James McKiernan Lawyers has a reputation for taking on the most serious and complex personal injury cases in California. Its attorneys have vast experience with California car accidents and personal injuries, including brain injuries, spine injuries and wrongful death.

James McKiernan Lawyers has amassed more than 400 five-star online reviews from clients and their families. The California car accident lawyers and California wrongful death lawyers at James McKiernan Lawyers also have the endorsement of various ratings organizations within the legal industry, including the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and America’s Best Attorneys.

Anyone in need of a California car accident lawyer or wrongful death lawyer in California can call James McKiernan Lawyers at 800-200-HURT or visit their website to schedule a free and confidential consultation.