Top Personal Injury Trends in 2020

What’s going on in the world often affects the practice of law, and with so many historic and unprecedented events in 2020, new changes and trends have emerged.

Accidents Involving Ride-Sharing Will Increase

In October 2018 a study from the University of Chicago and Rice University found that there was a 2% to 3% increase in traffic deaths in the United States since 2011 due to the rise in ridesharing services, which is equivalent to about 1,100 mortalities a year. One of the reasons for the increase in accidents is the increase in a practice called “deadheading,” also known as dead mileage, when a vehicle is in a non-revenue mode for logistical purposes, such as cruising the streets to find customers. Traveling between fares increases the amount of time a driver is on the road, and overall many people are on the road.

Social Distancing Will Continue To Affect Lawyers And Courts

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how governments and courts are run and attorneys are being forced to work from home to limit their exposure to the virus. It is important for anyone who is filing a suit to check the status of the courts and to find out more information about the format of their hearings. Personal injury attorneys will still need to provide consultations virtually. This also means that the way they receive documents and continue to communicate with clients will change. Cybersecurity protocols had to be increased to ensure the safety and confidentiality of documents being provided by clients, such as medical records and bills. But by being able to meet virtually, clients who have struggled with mobility since their accident can be reached and assisted more easily.

COVID-19 And Car Accidents

Due to the millions of workers either being furloughed or working from home during multiple lockdowns, fewer drivers have been on the road. With lower traffic volumes there have been fewer accidents in 2020. Additionally, there are fewer people using public transportation due to fear of the virus or, again, unemployment or their employment shifting to an online platform. However, it’s uncertain how many accidents have occurred involving pedestrians or cyclists as more people try to socially distance themselves from other pedestrians. There are also more cyclists on the road due to more people working from home and not needing to use their car as much or to get some exercise without potentially being exposed to the virus at a gym. Some police districts report increases in speeding violations because some drivers try to take advantage of the empty roads.

Texting And Driving Will Continue To Be An Issue

It has been estimated that over 600,000 drivers try to use their phones while behind the wheel on a daily basis. According to The National Safety Council, 1.6 million car accidents a year are caused by cell phone use while driving. And in a poll conducted by AAA, 35% of teenagers have admitted that they know it is wrong but do it anyway. 3,166 people were killed by distracted driving in 2017 in the United States and that same year there were 34,247 distracted driving accidents, also in the U.S. Click here for more info on personal injury claims involving accidents caused by texting while driving.