Most people acknowledge but largely downplay the risk inherent in motor vehicle travel. Individuals need on-demand transportation to maintain their jobs and take care of their families. Unfortunately, the risk they accept related to motor vehicle travel has actually increased in recent years.
An analysis of crash rates and traffic fatalities in Louisiana shows a disturbing trend that drivers and pedestrians need to acknowledge if they hope to optimize personal safety. Specifically, people should educate themselves about how the likelihood of dying in traffic has increased substantially in the last few years.
What does Louisiana crash data show?
For years, traffic deaths followed a downward trend. Sadly, that trend reversed a few years ago. Louisiana and New Orleans have seen a surge in traffic fatalities. 2021 saw 69 people die in collisions just in New Orleans, which was the highest figure since 2004.
The number of fatal crashes increased by more than a third between 2020 and 2021, and preliminary data from 2022 and 2023 supports the claim that this upward trend likely continued. Surprisingly, Orleans Parish did not see the most traffic fatalities. East Baton Rouge actually has actually seen the most traffic deaths since 2020, including the most pedestrian deaths. East Baton Rouge reported 247 traffic deaths between 2020 and 2022, while Orleans Parish reported 143. Caddo Parish saw 110 deaths during the same time, while Calcasieu Parish, with 107 fatalities, was the only other parish to reach triple digits.
What does this data mean for Louisiana drivers?
Obviously, motorists in Louisiana need to be aware of overall safety concerns to keep themselves and their passengers as safe as possible. People also need to recognize the severity of certain traffic risks if they hope to pursue compensation and hold other parties accountable after collisions.
Insurance claims can help compensate those with mild injuries and property damage losses. However, if someone dies in a crash, basic car insurance won’t provide enough financial support. Surviving family members may need to consider pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit as a way to recover the full financial impact of a fatal collision.
Recognizing that traffic risks have actually increased in recent years may inspire people to drive more defensively. It may also inspire crash victims to seek legal guidance in the event that a crash caused by another’s negligence affects them and their loved ones.