It’s 2016, and it’s clear that technology is modernizing the world. There are tablets, smart phones, touch screens, GPS devices, handhelds, Siri, and tech companies ruling over the modern landscape. Unfortunately, technology cannot solve all of our human errors and mistakes. Technology is certainly improving our world, but car accidents are still a modern occurrence. In Canada, and Toronto specifically, car accidents are actually on the rise. You might think this is a surprising fact considering the safety developments that have been made in the millennia, but think again.
The statistics show that Toronto finished 69th among Canadian cities, looking at the total number of accidents that were reported, with an average of 6.45 accidents per 100 cars in 2015. There were also 7.3 per cent more reported collisions in Canada in 2014-2015 than there were in 2013. Also surprising to hear, the Canadian suburbs had a higher number of reported accidents. North York and Ajax had 7.02 and 7.12 accidents per 100 cars! Meanwhile, Ajax and Hamilton were tied for the worst reported numbers in Canada.
Rural Driving
One might think that due to the greater populations and heavy traffic in the cities, that these areas would have reported a higher number of accidents. But, after looking at the statistics, this is not the case. Transport Canada states that around two-thirds of fatal and 30% of injury collisions occurring in Canada take place in rural areas, while these collisions usually involve alcohol use, speeding, and improper use of seatbelts. So what’s the difference between these two communities that causes so many serious injuries and motor vehicle accidents? What is known is that drivers aged 16- to 20-years-old engage in riskier driving behaviour than the older generations, and, in rural areas, there is more room to speed and fewer chances of getting stuck in traffic. So how do we deal with this problem? Education.
Teens and Driving
Even though 13% of licensed drivers in Canada were aged 16 to 24 in 2004, 24% of fatalities and 26% of the seriously injured were between the ages of 16 to 24 as well. This shows that young drivers in this age group at at a higher risk to be killed in a motor vehicle accident per distance traveled than any of the other age groups. This is a frightening statistic to hear, especially among parents. As of 2005, all Canadian jurisdictions now have the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs for new drivers. This allows these drivers to ease their way onto the roads, while learning from an experienced supervisor.
Distracted driving is another huge factor in collisions today that can be curbed with more educated, while prohibiting novice drivers from using their cell phones in the GDL program. It’s important that changes are made to the GDL programs, and our education, to include the modern risks we are seeing on the roads today. There is clearly a problem among this young age group, and you need to be prepared, as a parent, to teach your child the modern rules of the road.
Finding the Best Accident Lawyer
Even with all of the knowledge you now have, you cannot control the steering wheels on the cars around you. People will continue to text and drive, drink and drive, and drive through red lights. It’s an unfortunate fact about life, and until we make changes or perfect the self-driving cars, motor vehicle accidents will continue to exist.
After an accident happens, it can be extremely daunting to go through the process of filing your claims, trying to figure out which benefits you are eligible for, or even knowing if the insurance company assigned the right driver to be at-fault. It’s important that you find the best accident lawyer for you, meaning a lawyer that you can trust with your case, without leaving any details of the story out.
Here are a few questions you can ask a Toronto personal injury lawyer in a consultation, before you even make your decision:
- How many cases have you handled that are similar to mine?
- How many of those cases have you won?
- How quickly do you respond over the phone or over email?
- How will I be kept informed throughout the case?
- What is your focus?
- What is your experience?
- What is your fee? Is it negotiable?
- Who will be working on my case?
These are a few questions that you can ask your personal injury lawyer during a consultation, while writing down the answers of course, so that you can find a lawyer that you trust to handle your case. If you are in the GTA and are looking for the best accident lawyer, contact Sokoloff Lawyers for your free consultation!
Sources:
http://www.citynews.ca/2015/11/26/car-accidents-on-the-rise-in-canada-toronto-study/
http://www.allstate.ca/webpages/docs/newsroom/current/Data-Table-National-2015-EN-Nov-2015.pdf
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/tp-tp15145-1201.htm
http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/08/hiring-legal-help-ent-law-cx_rb_1008bovarnickhire.html