The past few years have been challenging with people needing to adapt to dramatic changes in how they live their lives personally and professionally. With a radically different landscape in Michigan and throughout the nation, it is to be expected that people will behave differently. A negative that has developed is drivers apparently showing greater recklessness with an uptick in auto accidents. Drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians should know about this when they head out.
Statistics say auto accidents have risen by 15% in Michigan
The Michigan State Police has expressed its concern over the statistical rise in accidents in the state. Some people believe that the health crisis has led to drivers exceeding the speed limit regularly and continuing to do so while people are heading back to work, school and again taking part in leisure activities.
The accident numbers rose to 282,640 in 2021—a spike of more than 37,000 from 2020. There were 1,131 road deaths. This was the worst total since 2005 and 4% higher than in 2020. State troopers say they are responding to a growing number of accidents and more speeders than they remember having faced before. In addition, distracted driving is cited as a factor in collisions.
Experts suggest that once law enforcement is again enforcing the law as fervently as it did prior to 2020, the accident rates should decrease. Still, there is no guarantee that this will be the case. Drivers seem to have grown accustomed to speeding without consequence. The ability to be constantly tuned in via cell phone is also challenging as people cannot stop checking their devices, making it more likely that distraction will continue to be a cause of crashes.
It is important to have help with the physical and financial aftermath of an auto accident
People who have been hurt or lost a loved one in an auto accident will understandably want answers as to why it happened. The medical costs and inability to work can cause inordinate problems for a person who might not have the medical coverage or income to be able to be off the job for an extended period. They often have a family they need to take care of.
When weighing options, it is always wise to have professional advice to decide how to move forward. This can be key with gathering evidence, calculating what was lost and taking care of all of the complex aspects of a case that inevitably arise. For help, it is important to discuss the situation with experienced professionals to plan a comprehensive strategy.