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Pennsylvania Single Vehicle Accidents – 2013 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Report

The 2013 results are in and there were nearly 40,000 single vehicle accident in the State of Pennsylvania! With a total number crashes of only 124,149, this means that single vehicle accidents accounted for 31.8 percent of all car crashes in Pennsylvania. These single vehicle accidents occurred across a wide variety of types of vehicles. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation summarized the data as follows:

Passenger Cars – 23,954 crashes – 60.7%

Light Truck/Van/SUV – 13,913 crashes – 35.2%

Heavy Truck – 859 crashes – 2.2%

Motorcycle – 617 crashes – 1.6%

School Bus – 25 crashes – 0.1%

Commercial Bus – 17 crashes – 0.0%

Other – 94 crashes – 0.2%

As can be seen, most often, single vehicle accidents occur while a person is operating a passenger car. While the data itself does not break down the cause or the severity of the accident, one must assume that distracted driving plays a role in at least some of the Pennsylvania single vehicle accidents. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers distracted driving to be a major problem.

In its analysis, the CDC found that every day more than 9 people are killed and 1,153 injured as the result of crashes involving distracted driving. Some of the major distracted driving activities include using a cell phone, texting, and eating while driving. The problems of talking on a cell phone and texting while driving have reached epidemic levels in the last few years. In 2013, 69 percent of United States drivers 18-64 reported talking on their cell phone while driving. 31% of the same age group reported sending text messages or emails while driving. While some states have enacted laws preventing the use of cell phones while driving, people continue to ignore the laws.

The CDC found that in 2011, nearly one in five crashes were cause by or involved distracted driving in some way. This was 17 percent of the total crashes.

Distracted driving is major problem which needs to be stopped. All too often, as personal injury attorneys, we see peoples lives drastically changed or prematurely ended as the result of distracted driving. These injuries and senseless killings could have easily been avoided had the person simply put down their phone while driving. Until the government can find a way to prevent people from using their phones while driving, it is likely that the number of distracted driving incidents will continue to increase.

This information was derived from the 2013 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics which can be found at “2013 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics” and for information regarding Distracted Driving see the CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention at “Distracted Driving”.

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA CAR ACCIDENT – CAR CRASHES INTO SCHOOL

A car in Northeast Philadelphia crashed into a school on Tuesday, December 30, 2014. Police are still investigating the subject incident, but did release that a man was transported to the nearby Aria Health Torresdale location. Police indicated that the 36 year old was treated for his injuries and released.

For the full article regarding this Northeast Philadelphia Car Accident, see WPVI-TV at “Car crashes into Northeast Philadelphia school building”.

SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA – PENNSYLVANIA CAR ACCIDENT STATISTICS AND FACTS

Within the State of Pennsylvania, there were 39,479 single vehicle car accidents that were reported in 2013. This includes all accidents in which a single vehicle strikes a fixed object. In 2013, 1,440 car crashes included a vehicle that struck a building. Of the accidents in which a vehicle struck a building, 22 of the crashes (1.8 percent) resulted in death.

Statistically, Philadelphia County accounted for 9.0% of the total car crashes that occurred in Pennsylvania. This statistic trailed on Allegheny County which had 9.6% of the total crashes. While this statistic does not distinguish between single or multiple car accidents, nor does it distinguish between Northeast Philadelphia car accidents and any other region or neighborhood within Philadelphia, it does show that Philadelphia County along with Allegheny County account for nearly twenty percent of accident that occur in Pennsylvania.

The 2013 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics is a great resource to learn about facts related to car crashes in Pennsylvania. The 76 page report details crashes by many different factors including, but not limited to, types of crashes, weather conditions, location, dates, times, and many more. A direct link to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website with the 2013 report can be found below.

This information was derived from the 2013 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics which can be found at “2013 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics”.

A deadly Philadelphia car accident has occurred on Roosevelt Boulevard in the Nicetown section. According to police, the accident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on December 28, 2014 near the Germantown / Wissahickon exit. The car, which was approaching Roberts Avenue, ran up onto grass, flew across the road, stuck a utility pole and went down an embankment.

The 23 year old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Three passengers were also injured in the accident. A 24 year old man had a broken arm and facial lacerations. He was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center in critical condition. The two back seat passengers were taken to the hospital for what were described by the police as minor injuries. As of December 29, 2014, the accident remained under investigation.

While the specific facts and cause of this one-car accident are not fully known at this time, we again must stress the importance of careful driving. All too often we encounter cases involving injury or even death which occur when a driver is traveling too fast under the circumstances or is driving while distracted. Distracted driving is an epidemic in this country and is costing too many young lives each year.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,153 people are injured and 9 people killed every day as the result of distracted driving.

If you have been injured as the result of an automobile accident, then you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Trained attorneys can help you to obtain the best possible financial settlement available. Oftentimes attorneys are required to seek economic and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, past medical expenses, future medical expenses, wage loss, income loss, property damage, and more.

For the full article regarding this Deadly Philadelphia Car Accident in Nicetown Section, see Philly.com at “Nicetown Crash leaves 1 dead”

For data regarding Distracted Driving see the CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention at “Distracted Driving”

On Friday, December 26, 2014, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, an apparent DUI resulted in the death of a husband and father of five.

Police reported that the accident occurred on State Road near its intersection with Golfview Road when the 46 year old male driver of a Chevrolet Camaro struck a Jeep Wrangler. Police further reported that upon arrival at the scene, they found the Jeep Wrangler laying on its side and the Chevrolet Camaro on the front yard of an adjacent property. The driver of the allegedly informed the police that he was “annihilated” and the police also stated that they overheard the driver stating that he had taken cocaine.

The driver of the Jeep was found bleeding and laying on the ground when the police arrived on the scene. He was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester Pennsylvania with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the Camaro was allegedly charged with homicide by vehicle while under the influence, five counts of DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, reckless driving, careless driving and exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph. Bail was set at $500,000.00 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January. The driver of the Camaro was reported to also have suffered a fractured skull as a result of the subject accident.

Driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol is a problem in this Country. Every day almost thirty people will die as the result of a motor vehicle crash with an alcohol impaired driver and in 2012, 10,322 were killed in alcohol related crashes.

The lives of families involved in deadly crashes will never be the same. Pennsylvania has recognized this and has enacted laws to financially assist victims. People who are involved in DUI crashes, or who have lost loved ones, should contact experienced attorneys to protect their interests and to help recover the financial compensation to which they are entitled.

For the full article regarding this Fatal DUI Car Crash in Delaware County, see Delaware County Daily Times at “Springfield man charged with DUI, related offenses in fatal accident” For data regarding Impaired Driving see the CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention at “Impaired Driving: Get the Facts”