Rhode Island Vehicle Accident Attorneys
Rhode Island’s highways and roads are vital channels for travel, work and commerce – but they can also be dangerous and deadly. Negligent or careless driving is a factor in many accidents. Speeding and alcohol also play key roles. In 2006, 81 people died as a result of motor vehicle accidents in Rhode Island, including 42 crashes where impaired driving was a factor in the crash.
But even the most routine traffic maneuvers can cause collisions. The concentration of turning and stopping cars at intersections accounts for more than 45% of all reported crashes, according to the Federal Highway Administration, and 21% of fatalities. In 2003, more than 9,200 Americans nationwide lost their lives in intersection-related crashes – a staggering rate of more than one death every hour.
The economic cost of motor vehicle accidents and deaths is enormous. For instance, vehicle accidents cost Rhode Island $767 million in 2000. But the cost of lost lives is immeasurable.
Whether you drive a passenger car, a motorcycle or travel on a route populated by commercial trucks, always proceed with caution – vehicle accidents can happen at any moment with very serious consequences.
Automobile accidents make up the majority of vehicle fatalities in Rhode Island – more than 50% of motorists who died in crashes were occupants of passenger cars. Speed played a significant role in many of those accidents; when reckless or impatient drivers fail to obey posted speed limits, others paid the price.
Impaired driving is a factor in almost half of fatal vehicle accidents. A 2008 study by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 20% of Rhode Island adult drivers – or one of every five motorists aged 18 or older -- had driven in the past year while under the influence of alcohol. That same study found that 6.8% of Rhode Island adult drivers operated their vehicles in the past year while under the influence of illicit drugs – the highest percentage of any state.
Trucking accidents play a lesser role in Rhode Island, but when they happen, the injuries are typically much worse than those caused by an auto accident. The effects of speeding, improper maintenance or truck driver fatigue can be deadly. Because trucks are much larger in size than passenger cars, the occupants of the smaller vehicles are at greater risk of catastrophic injury or death. A report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that in crashes involving large trucks and other vehicles, 98% of the fatalities occurred among occupants of the passenger vehicles.
Motorcycle accidents are often caused by someone other than the cyclist. In fact, the failure of other motorists to see motorcycles in traffic is the main cause of motorcycle accidents. One recent study shows approximately three-fourths of motorcycle accidents in an urban area involved collisions with another vehicle – usually a passenger car. The driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcyclist’s right-of-way in two-thirds of those accidents. Cyclists have less protection than other vehicles in a crash, and virtually any accident can result in severe injuries, including traumatic head injuries
If you've suffered a serious personal injury from a vehicle accident, contact Gemma Law Associates, Inc. at 401-467-2300 or submit an online contact form. We've been helping clients in Rhode Island and throughout the state including Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, East Providence and Woonsocket for more than 48 years – and we can help you.
