2020 is a brand-new year full of possibilities, including, unfortunately, opportunities to become injured in accidents. Many individuals want to know what to watch out for so they can help prevent serious injuries. While it’s not within your control to prevent anything from happening to you throughout your life, awareness and knowledge of emerging personal injury trends can help you prepare for an accident and know how to respond if you’re ever in one.
It’s important to know that the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims in Kentucky is one year. If you’ve been injured as a result of another’s negligence, you must act quickly to not miss your chance to achieve compensation for your pain and suffering.
Increasing Concern for Pedestrians
Around the country, there has been a rise in pedestrian accidents that has brought up a cause for concern. This increase can be attributed to a number of factors, including the rise in texting while driving, as well as texting while walking. The Governors Highway Safety Association found in 2018 that American drivers killed 5,977 walkers and cyclists the year before.
To reduce your chances of being hit as a pedestrian, it’s important that you’re not distracted. Use the designated crosswalks, look both ways, and wait to take out your phone until you’ve made it safely across.
Increase in Ride-Sharing Accidents
With more and more commuters turning to ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft in 2020, there will also be an increase in the number of ride-sharing accidents on the road. Research data from 2019 connected the rise in alternative transportation apps to the increased number of car accidents caused by road congestion.
More Motorcycle Crashes & Fatalities
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die in a crash than individuals in cars, and male rider 40 years old and over contribute to the highest share of motorcycle fatalities nationwide.
Risk factors that won’t go away anytime soon include alcohol impairment, helmet use, lack of training, and drug impairment.
Protecting Your Future
Our personal injury lawyers at Busch, Reed, Jones & Leeper, P.C. want our clients to receive the maximum amount of compensation possible for their injuries, because we want them to recover without any financial burdens and prepare them for a brighter future. We also practice in construction litigation, wills and estates, and insurance defense, all of which involve defending our clients so they can emerge from their cases feeling ready for what lies ahead. With more than 150 years of combined experience, we know how to serve our clients. We offer free initial case consultations and can educate you on the legal area your particular case falls into.
Call the personal injury lawyers at Busch, Reed, Jones & Leeper, P.C. at (770) 629-0154, or contact us online if you’ve been injured in an accident. Whether you were hurt in a construction accident or as a result of medical malpractice, you and your rights deserve to be defended by a legal team you can trust.