Kenneth S. Feraru Automobile Accidents Law Blog on Lawyers.com

New York Accident Statistics

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 by Kenneth S. Feraru

In New York during the course of 2005, there were 128,581 police reported motor vehicle crashes and . Tens of thousands of these accidents involved injuries and many thousands resulted in death. From the police reports of the accident lawsuit in Long Island on record, a large percent were attributed to specific causes. Some of the accident statistics available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration detail car accidents, motorcycle accidents and also include statistics about bicycle accidents.

Although a large number of motor vehicle accidents involved drivers who were impaired, the incidence of this type of accident is on the decline due, in part, to the effects of the New York Stop DWI program.

Statistics for New York accidents in 2005:

Alcohol related injury accidents – 7,724
Alcohol related fatality accidents – 382
Accidents caused by driving at unsafe speeds – 14,244
Accidents caused by failure to yield the right-of-way – 20,714
Accidents caused by following to closely – 17,780

There has been an upward trend since 2003 in the incidence of motorcycle accidents, relating to the increase in the number of motorcycles and operators due to the high cost of gasoline and relatively lower cost to purchase a motorcycle.

Total number of motorcycle crashes - 4,892
Number of motorcyclists killed - 162

A total of eight percent of motorcyclists involved in fatal or personal injury crashes were under 21 years of age, but less than one percent of licensed operators are in this age group.

Number of Pedestrians injured – 15,392
Number of Pedestrians killed – 328 Number of Bicyclists injured – 5,680 Number of Bicyclists killed – 47 (21 of those fatalities occurring in New York City)

Drivers and pedestrians can be proactive in an effort to work at reducing all motor vehicle accidents. Some steps that can help are: knowing and obeying traffic laws, avoid drinking and driving, driving without distractions, using proper safety equipment, taking extra precautions when driving conditions are hazardous and not driving when tired.

Article contributed by the Long Island accident law firm of Kenneth S. Feraru, (516) 535-3333, www.kferarulaw.com.

Posted at 14:01 PM

Topic: Automobile Accidents