According to a study by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, New York is somewhere the middle among states regarding traffic safety laws. The organization examined traffic laws throughout the country and found 376 laws that it said should be adopted by all states. Those laws dealt with safety issues involving seat belt use, motorcycle helmet use, texting and driving, teen driving, child safety and impaired driving among other topics.
The study’s findings included noting that more than a dozen states lacked a primary enforcement seat belt law for passengers riding in the front of a vehicle and that more than two dozen did not have laws about seat belt use and back seat passengers. Rhode Island was the highest-ranked state for traffic law safety while South Dakota came in last place. Other states that had high ranks for safety included Louisiana and Delaware. Low-ranking states included Nevada, Ohio, Vermont, Wyoming and Florida.
Fatalities from traffic accidents are on the rise. The largest year-over-year percentage increase in five decades occurred in 2015 while preliminary figures the following year showed a rise of 8 percent in its first nine months over the same time in 2015. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association reported that in 2015, 2.4 million people were injured and over 35,000 died in motor vehicle accidents.
After a motor vehicle accident caused by a driver’s negligence, injured victims might turn to insurance with the expectation that their expenses will be covered. However, even if the driver responsible for the accident has coverage, the offer from the insurance company might be inadequate. If the insurance company refuses to make a better offer even after negotiation, the next step might be a lawsuit against the at-fault motorist filed with the assistance of a lawyer.