The cheaper gas prices and the stronger economy have their benefits, but they also have a downside. The low gas prices and stronger economy were contributors to an increased number of traffic deaths in 2015. Because of the lower costs of driving, more people are driving more miles.

The NHTSA estimates that 35,200 people died on the roadways in the United States in 2015. This is about an 8% increase in roadway deaths from 2014.

The rate of fatal accidents also increased to 1.12 fatalities per 100 million miles driven in 2015 from 1.08 fatalities per 100 million miles in 2014.

The cause of many of the accidents in 2015 was driver error, meaning the accidents could be blamed on the driver of the vehicle rather than road conditions or the vehicle malfunctioning. Drunk driving is also a cause of many driving fatalities. Arounf one third of traffic fatalities are caused by drunk driving. The biggest increase in fatalities was a 10% increase in accidents involving drivers ages 15 to 20.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, contact Martin Law Office for a free consultation.