Safety Officials Predict High Number of Traffic Accident Fatalities during Labor Day Weekend
Law enforcement and safety officials in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and just about everywhere else in the United States are anticipating a potential record number of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities during the upcoming Labor Day weekend.
The number of fatal traffic accidents in the US is already surging, with the National Safety Council reporting that there were significantly more accident-related deaths during the first six months of 2016 compared to the first six months of 2015. The total rise in auto accident fatalities was approximately nine percent, with more than 19,000 people dying on U.S. roadways so far this year. Moreover, nearly 2.2 million people sustained serious injuries in car accidents between January and June of 2016.
The expectation now among government officials and interested observers is that there will be more than 40,000 traffic fatalities by the end of the year.
Traffic safety experts have speculated that one reason for the rise in car accident deaths in heavily populated areas like New Jersey may be an improved economy, which has led to more travel during weekends and holidays. According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers have traveled 1.58 trillion miles in 2016, a figure that represents a massive increase over the preceding year.
What this all adds up to a frightening prediction from the National Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the upcoming three-day Labor Day weekend that starts on September 2: it could be one of the most deadly Labor Day weekends ever. The total number of deaths resulting from car accidents on US roadways between September 2 and September 4 could exceed 440.
For more information, read the NYPost.com article, “This Could Be the Deadliest Labor Day Weekend in Years.”
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident anywhere in NJ, you should speak with a skilled personal injury and car accident attorney as soon as possible. The New Jersey personal injury lawyers at Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. have more than 70 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases and will help you get compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.