According to the Louisiana State University Highway Safety Research Group, there were 6,804 fatal car accidents between the years 2005 and 2012. In 2008 alone, there were 912 across the state, 60% of which were single car accidents. Why did so many of Louisiana’s fatal motor vehicle accidents only involve one car? The reason is that many of those whose lives were claimed were bicyclists and pedestrians. In this blog, we will further break down some essential information you should know about fatal motor vehicle accidents in Louisiana.
The Breakdown: Which Parish Has the Most Fatal Accidents?
According to a study conducted by Louisiana State University, East Baton Rouge had more fatal car accidents than any other Louisiana parish. Compared to East Carroll Parish, which had no fatalities, East Baton Rouge had 69 in 2017, followed by Orleans Parish, which had 45 fatalities. Other parishes that had a high fatality rate includes Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, and Jefferson Parish. Although fatalities in the state appeared to be dwindling over the years, between 2011 and 2012 there was a significant jump. In 2011, fatalities for the state totaled at 677 and increased to 722 in 2012. In 2017, the total number of fatalities was 771.
The Most Common Fatal Car Accidents in Louisiana
Fatal accidents can occur in any number of ways, involving motor vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians. In this section, we will breakdown the most common types of fatal car accidents in the state, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In 2016, these types of accidents were frequently claimed lives:
- Passenger vehicle accidents (487 deaths)
- Pedestrian accidents (127 deaths)
- Motorcycle accidents (99 deaths)
- Bicycle accidents (22 deaths)
Of course, without any context, these numbers might not mean much, so to put them into perspective, we will compare Louisiana to the national average. According to the NHTSA, the national average was 11.59 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016. In Louisiana, there were 16.17 deaths per 100,000 people that same year.
Obtain the Assistance of a Knowledgeable Wrongful Death Attorney
Did you recently lose a loved one in a fatal car accident? Contact the team at Joseph A. Gregorio, A Professional Law Firm for the exceptional personalized attention you need, so you can successfully obtain compensation and hold the responsible party liable for this terrible loss.
Contact our law office today at (318) 719-7515 to schedule a complimentary case review and learn more about how we can assist you during this difficult time.