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Tucson Vehicle Accident Fatalities

What are the circumstances that are most likely to contribute to a fatal accident? What precautions can you take to avoid fatal injuries? And if the worst should happen, what legal options do you and your loved ones have?

Fatal car accidents seem to be one of the facts of modern life. For example, in 2016, 962 people died on Arizona’s roads, according to the Arizona Crash Facts Summary, prepared by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

What Causes Motor Vehicle Fatalities?

Fatal accidents are most commonly the result of poor road conditions, drinking and driving, speeding, or a failure to use a seatbelt. Combined, these four sources of vehicle accidents cost the U.S. economy just over half a trillion dollars annually.

Some of the factors that would make roads safer include wider shoulders, realignment of crooked roads, and requirements for breakaway signposts, light poles, etc.

Accident Fatalities in Tucson, AZAccidents involving more than one car have been found to be deadlier than single-car accidents. Most of Arizona’s fatal road accidents in 2016 (563 out of 865, or just less than 66 percent) were the result of multi-car collisions, according to ADOT.

Alcohol is a major factor contributing to an accident’s potential for lethality. ADOT’s figures from 2016 indicate that consumption of alcohol contributed to 3.88 percent of all crashes, but it was nonetheless a factor in 31.21 percent of all fatal crashes.

What Are the Numbers on Fatal Accidents?

Accident fatalities are on the rise in Arizona. With 865 fatal crashes in 2016, it was the deadliest year on Arizona’s roads since 2007, which saw 952 such accidents. Road fatalities have been rising in Arizona since 2014, jumping from 709 that year to 811 in 2015 before increasing yet again to 865 in 2016.

Some ADOT figures for 2016: approximately 2.63 people were killed every day. That works out to one death on Arizona’s roads every 9.11 hours. One person was injured on Arizona’s roads every 9.29 minutes, and we saw 155.06 accident injuries daily.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, most of the fatal accidents that took place in Arizona last year took place in urban areas. The vast majority of alcohol-related crashes (78.81 percent) took place in urban areas, while only 21.19 percent took place in rural areas. Interestingly, rural alcohol-related crashes were more likely to be fatal, accounting for 32.96 percent of fatal alcohol-related accidents.

The peak day for fatal crashes last year was Saturday, and the peak hour was from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. November 8th was the day with the most fatal crashes last year, with a total of eight lethal crashes taking place on that day.

A Note about Motorcycles

Motorcyclists are disproportionately likely to be involved in fatal accidents. Because a motorcyclist is far more exposed than the driver of a regular car, a motorcyclist is far more likely to die in the event of a biking accident.

It is not that a motorcyclist is more likely than any other driver to get into an accident. Out of 126,845 accidents on Arizona’s roads in 2016, only 3,104 (or just over two percent) involved motorcycles. But out of 865 fatal accidents, 142 of them involved motorcycles.

That means the two percent of accidents that involve motorcycles account for 16 percent of fatal accidents. Motorcyclists have convincing reason to be on high alert when they get on the road.

Did Someone You Love Lose Their Life in an Accident?

In the event of a fatal accident, it is important to begin the investigation as soon as possible. Get in touch with a trusted local lawyer quickly.

Tucson Law OfficeThere are a variety of parties who could be liable in the event of a fatal injury accident. Obviously, the driver of the other vehicle and their insurance company can be held liable in the event of an accident. But the highway department can be held responsible in the case of poorly maintained roads. Arizona’s dram shop law opens up the possibility that a restaurant, liquor store, or server, may in some cases be liable in the event of an accident caused by drunk driving.

Whatever your story, it is important that you get in touch with a trusted local attorney today.

The Khalidi Law Firm has more than 20 years of experience helping injured persons in the Tucson area get the closure they deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured (or worse) in an accident, contact the Tucson injury lawyers at The Khalidi Law firm for a free consultation. Call (520) 629-9909 today.

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