Motor vehicle crashes were the leading reason for deaths to those from the age of 1 to 33. The age groups most affected by motor vehicle crashes were 15 through 24 and then, later on down that age-pike, from 75 and up.

THE “CRASH-DEMON” ALCOHOL: In 2003 crashes, in which alcohol was the cause, resulted in over 17,000 fatalities, over 500,000 nonfatal injuries and total damages in the U.S.A. of nearly 54 billion dollars in economic loss. (Statistics reveal that 1 our of every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic accident at some time in their lives).

“PROPERTY-DAMAGE-ONLY” CRASHES: These costs came to a whopping 61 billion dollars!

DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE OTHER “CRASH-DEMON” SPEED: Recent statistics show that exceeding the legal speed limit (and/or driving too fast for existing conditions) cost over 43 billion dollars. Speed related crashes were associated with over 13,000 fatalities and over 700,000 nonfatal injuries.

THREE 2002 MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT “PREDICTIONS”

(MADE BY EXPERTS) WHICH WERE TO TAKE PLACE IN 2003

PREDICTION #1. “About 284,000 distracted drivers will be in serious crashes in 2003.Almost 30% will be distracted by something outside the vehicle, like for example, adjusting the radio/cassette or CD or another passenger in the vehicle“. THE 2003 RESULTS: They were a bit short because over 300,000 of the so-called “Distracted Driver” serious crashes occurred in 2003!

PREDICTION #2. “A death will occur in a motor-vehicle crash every 12 minutes and a serious injury every 14 seconds“. THE 2003 RESULTS : This 2002 prediction was just about “Right-on-the-money”!

PREDICTION #3. “More than 4.8 million people will be rushed to and treated in hospital emergency departments because of a motor vehicle accident”. THE 2003 RESULTS: This prediction was also a bit short because there were over 5 million people treated in hospital emergency departments because of a motor vehicle accident!

SO, YOU ASK: “What‘s the bottom line to all of the above?”

THE ANSWER TO THAT IS VERY SIMPLE: “Beer, whiskey, wine, gin, gasoline and speed create a deadly mixture that cause an Incredible Loss of billions of dollars, far too many deaths and a terrible destruction to all Americans”.

I spent over 30 years of my life investigating, and being involved in, all types of motor vehicle accidents - - automobile, truck, motorcycle, you name it! If it had wheels, was driven by a motor and had an accident, that’s what I did to make a living. First as an Insurance Adjuster, promoted to Supervisor and then Claims Manager. I spent the last 5 years as a Trial Assistant.

I worked my way through college at a Private Investigation Agency where I was assigned to work on motor vehicle accident claims. Then I was drafted into the U.S. Navy where I investigated serious military motor vehicle accidents in the Mid-West. After several years of that, I was discharged and went to work for an insurance company

For so many years I was involved in motor vehicle accidents and I know , absolutely and positively: Nothing has changed. Booze and speed was, and continues to be, the Number #1 and #2 “Combined Reasons” for motor vehicle accidents and the incredible financial, physical and mental toll they take on all of us in America today!

To get this point across (even if we’ve got to be “A pain in the neck” - - as we harp away at them) telling our children, our family and our fiends over and over again , “Both the booze and the speed has got to stop“!

We must set and be good examples. We’ve got to slow down ourselves and we positively must not drink and drive! If we don’t than these awful statistics will continue to rise (as they have now, ever-constantly, for over the past 60 years) straight up, into the stratosphere!

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article SOME CRUCIAL 2003 "CRASH FACTS" IN THE U.S.A.  is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Dr. George Langlitz III, nor PHYSICIANSPLUS.NET make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR to they purport to engage in rendering ay professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Wherever such professional help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.

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