2 Women Severely Injured in I-80 Collision
WOWT News reports on a two-vehicle collision that seriously injured two women. The crash occurred on I-80 just after 2 p.m.
According to authorities, a 2010 Toyota Rav 4 and a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe were travelling westbound in adjacent lanes. They collided with each other, and the impact caused the Rav 4 to leave the highway and crash into a pole.
The driver of the Rav 4, Alexis Martinez-Graciak, sustained a broken jaw and minor injuries to her shoulder and hip. A passenger in her vehicle, Olivia Johnson, sustained a broken collar bone, fractured ribs, and a punctured lung.
Nebraska interstates are no stranger to serious collisions. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 218 fatal wrecks on our state’s roads in 2015, and these caused 246 deaths. Thousands of other victims endured severe injuries, and the costs of medical bills and lost income threatened their financial security.
If you were injured by a negligent driver in Nebraska, you may be entitled to compensation for healthcare expenses, time off work, and other damages. An accident lawyer from Rensch & Rensch Law can evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim. Call 1-800-471-4100 to schedule a free initial consultation with an injury attorney in Omaha.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motor-Vehicle Accidents?
Car accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States. Data from the IIHS shows that 35,092 people died in fatal collisions in 2015 alone.
Although some wrecks are unavoidable, you can reduce your risk by learning how to anticipate the most common causes of collisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 94 percent of all crashes in the United States occur due to driver errors.
The NHTSA compared crash data from a 2.5-year period between 2005 and 2007 and found that the most common causes of accidents are:
- Driver recognition errors: 845,000 accidents;
- Driver decision errors: 684,000 accidents;
- Driver performance errors: 210,000 accidents;
- Non-performance driver errors: 145,000 accidents;
- Environment-related factors: 52,000 accidents; and
- Vehicle problems: 44,000 accidents.
CDC: Nearly One-Third of All Traffic Deaths Involve Alcohol
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol contributes to nearly one-third of all traffic deaths in the United States. Nebraska is certainly no stranger to drunk-driving collisions. Between 2003 and 2012, 682 people died in alcohol-related wrecks. What’s more, a CDC survey revealed that 3.4 percent of adults in Nebraska had driven after consuming too much alcohol during the 30 days prior to the survey. This was much higher than the national average – 1.9 percent.
If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk, distracted, or reckless driver in Nebraska, contact Rensch & Rensch Law. Our attorneys have more than 45 years of combined legal experience, and we have litigated more than 100 jury trials. Call 1-800-471-4100 today to schedule a free consultation with an accident lawyer in Omaha.
