Philadelphia

and Pennsylvania Road SafetyWHERE, WHEN AND WHY PENNSYLVANIA TRAFFIC COLLISIONS OCCUR

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Driving in PhillyOn average, drivers in Philadelphia are 61.2 percent more likely to have a traffic accident than other drivers in the U.S., according to Allstate. That’s a pretty jarring statistic, one that begs many questions.

Which roads are the most dangerous? What types of accidents are the most

common? When do they occur?

Let’s tackle each of these questions to gain a deeper understanding of the dangers we face on our roadways.

Pennsylvania Vehicle Accidents in 2014From the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation:

121,317 reportable traffic crashes

1,195 fatalities 79,758 people injured Fatality rate of 1.21 deaths per

hundred million vehicle-miles of travel

On a Given Day in PA

In Pennsylvania, there are:

14 traffic crashes every hour (332 per day)

9 injuries every hour (219 per day) 1 death every seven hours

(3 per day)

Where Accidents Happen Around Philadelphia…Here are some of the more dangerous roadways for vehicle accidents around Philly from 2011 to 2013:

I-95 from the Ben Franklin Bridge north to I-276 had at least 16 fatal accidents.

I-95 from the Ben Franklin Bridge south to the Delaware border had at least 13 fatal accidents.

I-276 from the Bristol Pike to the junction with I-76 had 11 fatal accidents. The Northeast Extension as far as Ridge Road had at least 6 fatal accidents. The Blue Route had 3 fatal accidents. The Vine Street Expressway had one fatal accident (in 2012). Route 1 from the Schuylkill Expressway to I-276 had at least 33 fatal

accidents.

What Kinds of Accidents Are Most Common?

The three types of accidents with the highest fatality rates are:

Hitting a fixed object Angled collisionsHitting a pedestrian

35.6%21.8%

21.8%

The three most common kinds of crashes are:

Hitting a fixed object Angled collisionsRear-end collisions

31.8%

26.4%

21.8%

When Accidents Occur

The majority of accidents occur under no adverse weather conditions

Most crashes (68.2%) occur in daylight

Friday is the day of the week with the most crashes (15.9%)

Sunday is the day of the week with the most traffic crash fatalities

(17.3%)

The highest number of crashes and fatalities occur during times of peak

traffic (3-5PM)

However, crashes that occur in non-rush hour traffic tend to be more

deadly (6PM-2AM)

Why Accidents Happen

Driver error is estimated to be the biggest contributor (85-90%) to traffic

accidents nationally.

The age group with the highest percentage of driver error tends to be 16-21

years of age.

Speeding is one of the most dangerous form of poor/degraded driver

performance, contributing to more than 30,000 accidents.

When defects are involved, tire/wheel related failures (36%) and brake-

related failures (29.5%) are the most common reasons.

Work zone accidents tend to be dangerous ones, with 47% of crashes

containing injuries or fatalities.

Alcohol in Traffic AccidentsPerhaps the biggest danger facing all of us on our roadways is the impairment of drivers due to the use of alcohol. Every day in Pennsylvania, there are:

29 alcohol-related traffic crashes

0.9 persons killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes

20 persons injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes

Alcohol in Traffic Accidents: Part 2 The PA DOT tells us that in 2014:

43% of driver deaths in the 21-25 age group were drinking drivers.

13% of driver deaths in the 16-20 age group were drinking drivers.

Most alcohol-related crashes (72%) occurred during the hours of

darkness, usually on weekends

74% of the drinking drivers in traffic crashes were male

Attention Distracted Drivers!

Drivers who aren’t paying attention to the road present a hazard to all of us. Every year, 400,000 Americans are injured as a result of distracted driving. Examples of distracted driving include, but are not limited to:

Texting and talking on a phone Eating, drinking and smoking Adjusting a car stereo Searching for an object in the car Personal grooming

Costs of AccidentsThe Pennsylvania Department of Transportation estimates the financial impact of accidents.

The average cost of a death in a traffic accident is $6,474,138.

The average cost of a major injury in a traffic accident is

$1,412,675.

The total cost of all accidents is a whopping $13,848,000,295.

On average, the estimated economic loss per every man, woman

and child in Pennsylvania was $1,083 in 2014.

How Can We Be Safer Drivers?Many of the steps we can take to be better drivers involve using common sense and obeying the rules. It’s up to each of us to develop safer driving habits.

Always observe the speed limit.

Give yourself plenty of space when driving behind other cars.

Put your cell phone away whenever you’re behind the wheel.

Practice defensive driving.

Never drive after consuming alcohol. Instead, make arrangements

for transportation beforehand.

Teach your children the benefits of safe driving.

Here are some of the cases we’ve won for our clients:

Have You Been Injured in a Traffic Collision?

W W W. W N W L AW. C O M

Failing to follow traffic laws and engaging in unsafe activities while operating a vehicle could be considered negligence. If you have been injured in a vehicle crash

and believe someone else is responsible, you might be entitled to compensation.

Call us for a free consultation, at (800) 529-6600.

$2.3 Million Verdict in Fatal Three-Car Accident CaseA Philadelphia jury recently awarded a $2.3 million dollar verdict to the

family of a Chester County woman killed in a three car accident on

December 18, 2009. The accident occurred when the defendant driver

struck decedent in the rear with his truck. The impact resulted in

decedent’s car being pushed into oncoming traffic where it was then hit

by another car at estimated speeds of between 42-49 miles per hour.

$1.75 Million Settlement for Pedestrians Injured in Vehicle AccidentCar Accident Attorney in Philadelphia, David Sternberg successfully

pursued a personal injury claim on behalf of an elderly husband and

wife who suffered significant injuries when they were struck by an

automobile while crossing the street. The negligent driver failed to

notice the couple as he erratically operated his car. Attorney Sternberg

was able to obtain a $1.75 settlement for the injured couple.

$1.45 Million Settlement in Motor Vehicle Accident CaseIn a confidential settlement involving a case of motor vehicle

negligence, Wapner Newman attorneys Robert S. Miller and Adam S.

Getson secured damages for a 55-year old former carpenter in

Burlington County, New Jersey. The victim sustained multiple injuries,

together with shock and injury to his nerves and nervous system.

During a day long Pre-Trial Conference, the attorneys secured

$1,450,000.00 in damages for the plaintiff.