In Cleveland, the stay-home order designed to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infections may also be reducing the number of other types of accidents and injuries in the city. With fewer vehicles on the road, fewer bicyclists, and fewer pedestrians, the overall rate of motor vehicle collisions appears to be dropping.
Indeed, according to a recent article in Quartz, cities across the U.S. are seeing an overall decline in the number of car accident-related injuries, including collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists. While hospitals and other healthcare facilities often see a number of accident victims, those facilities are now largely filled with people who have symptoms of COVID-19.
Does fewer accidents mean no accidents? Certainly not. While the overall rate of motor vehicle collisions has declined in several places as a result of stay-home orders, car crashes are still happening, and injury victims need to know what to do after getting hurt in a crash. If you were involved in a crash, I can help you with your claim today.
Lower Total Number of Motor Vehicle Collisions
Cities in states with stay-home orders, according to the article, are seeing the overall number of car crashes reduced by about 50% and sometimes more. It is well known that the more vehicles on the road, the higher the likelihood of a serious accident. Why are stay-home orders leading to lower totals of motor vehicle collisions? In short, people are not commuting to work.
Further, people are not using their vehicles recreationally. Whereas a Cleveland resident might have made plans to drive to work in the morning and to drive to a restaurant later in the evening to meet friends for dinner, non-essential businesses are closed, and nobody is dining inside restaurants.
People are using their vehicles primarily to get to jobs that have been deemed essential, to buy groceries, and to pick up medications at pharmacies. As such, while the overall number of cars on the road certainly has declined, people have not stopped driving altogether.
Car accidents may be happening less frequently, but they are still occurring. And some of those drivers are behaving even more dangerously on the roads. According to a report from CBS News, drivers have been caught speeding at shockingly dangerous speeds across the country.
Traffic Crashes are Still Happening, and Some Reckless Drivers May Be at Fault
The CBS report indicates that city roads and highways are less busy, but some drivers are taking that lack of traffic as an opportunity to behave extremely recklessly. To be sure, drivers are being cited nationwide for speeding, often at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
If a reckless driver caused a car accident in which you were injured, you can hold that driver accountable by filing a claim.
Call Me for Help With Your Case
Were you injured in a car accident in or around Cleveland? Do not be discouraged from filing a claim because of the complications of the coronavirus pandemic. I can help with your auto insurance claim and, if necessary, we can take your case to court to hold the at-fault driver accountable. Call me today at 877.944.4373 to find out more about how I can help you seek the financial compensation you deserve. I’ll Make Them Pay!®
