Pre-Paid Legal Advice:

Auto accidents and motor vehicle accidents in Pennsylvania

By Welch, Gold & Siegel – Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., Pennsylvania

Every motor vehicle crash is dependent on three elements – the driver, the roadway, and the vehicle.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in 2008, there were 125,327 reportable traffic crashes in Pennsylvania. These accidents claimed the lives of 1,468 people and injured another 88,709 people. Pennsylvania motor vehicle accident injuries and death cause a staggering impact on the families and the community.

Pennsylvania has over 121,000 miles of roads and highways; 33% are state highways maintained by PennDOT, and the remaining 67% are maintained by local municipalities and other entities.

Motor-vehicle traffic crashes occurring on Pennsylvania roads and highways are investigated and reported on by both the Pennsylvania State Police and approximately 1,300 local municipal police departments.

In Pennsylvania during 2008

• 343 reportable traffic crashes occurred (about 14 crashes every hour) per day.
• 4 persons were killed in reportable traffic crashes (one death every 6 hours) per day.
• 243 persons were injured in reportable crashes (about 10 injuries every hour) per day.

In Pennsylvania during 2007  

• 1 out of every 43 people was involved in a reportable traffic crash.
• 1 out of every 8,480 people was killed in a reportable traffic crash.
• 1 out of every 140 people was injured in a reportable traffic crash.

In Pennsylvania during 2008, there were

• 184 heavy truck related deaths
• 534 alcohol related deaths
• 474 speed related deaths

Motor vehicle accidents regarding age and gender
Most crashes occurred in the 16-20 year old range and the 21-25 year old range with males far exceeding females. In the 21-25 year old category, 55 percent of the deaths were caused by a drunk driver. Younger drivers are problematic because of their lack of experience and false sense of bravado. Older more mature drivers also are problematic because of their slower reflexes and diminishing vision and acuity. 

Miscellaneous Pennsylvania motor vehicle statistics

• Passenger vehicles had the most deaths – 647
  Light truck/van/SUV had the second highest number of deaths – 375
• Accident causes involved tires/wheels defects (850), brake problems (714), and steering system failures (301).
• There were more injuries on Fridays but more deaths on Saturdays.
• Pre Thanksgiving had the most accidents as did post Thanksgiving. Either of these days was more than double
• July 4th and triple of either New Years Day or New Years Eve.
• Motor vehicle crashes destroy families leaving them devastated because of wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, financial stress and economic upheavals and bad faith insurance.  Lives are forever altered.
  

Contact a Pennsylvania personal injury attorney

Auto accidents happen and you or a family member or dear friend will be seriously injured. Contact a Pennsylvania personal injury attorney sooner vs. later before the evidence disappears along with what people remember.