Fatal car accident statistics can help residents avoid deadly car crashes in West Virginia.
Understanding fatal car accident statistics can help residents track trends in deadly car crashes in West Virginia. A car accident lawyer often has ready access to these statistics too, if one is looking for a comprehensive account for a claim. Residents can learn more about the impact of restraint use, types of vehicles and crashes, counties most impacted, and other important facts.
Overview of Fatal Car Accidents in West Virginia
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the most recent statistics from 2011 indicate there were a total of 337 traffic incidents involving fatalities. Most occurred in rural areas (238), with the remaining occurring
in urban areas (99). The number increased from the previous year’s 315 fatalities. However, it is lower than past years.
A total of 463 drivers lost their lives. The age group in which most of these deaths occurred was 21 years and older (410). The number of drivers killed between the ages of 15 and 20 years old was 49. The pattern is fairly consistent from previous years in the age groups most impacted by deadly car crashes in West Virginia.
Use of Safety Restraints and Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities
There was just one fatality of a child aged four and under. Although the child was restrained, this low number suggests greater use of child safety seats. This is the lowest number of fatalities in the age group since 2007. In the state of West Virginia, children up to the age of eight are required to use a federally approved child seat.
According to West Virginia fatal car accident statistics, for those aged five and older, there were 261 occupant fatalities. In 45 of these cases, it is not known if safety restraints were used. Of the remaining, 132 were not using restraints, and 84 were using them. It is estimated that an additional 52 lives might have been saved if were used restraints.
West Virginia Fatal Car Accident Statistics: Types of Crashes
The type of crash most responsible for fatalities was roadway departure (250). Followed by that were single-vehicle crashes (202), speeding (114), rollovers (110), intersection-related crashes (37) and large trucks (34).
The type of vehicle involved in these fatal crashes was almost exclusively the passenger car (174), followed by pickup trucks (73), utility trucks (55), vans (22) and large trucks (8).
According to the West Virginia fatal car accident statistics, the following are the top 10 counties in West Virginia to experience fatal accidents:
• Kanawha County – 30;
• Berkeley County – 18;
• Harrison County – 17;
• Wood County – 17;
• Mercer County – 16;
• Wayne County – 16;
• Jefferson County – 13;
• Lincoln County – 13;
• Cabell County – 12; and
• McDowell County – 12.
Nearly all of these counties experienced an increase (some slight) in the number of fatal accidents. Cabell County was the only one that had the same number as in 2010.
Impact of Alcohol Impairment in Fatal Crashes
The number of fatalities involving a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .08 or higher was 90. The following counties had the most alcohol-related crashes, with six deaths in each one: Berkeley County, Jefferson County, Kanawha County and Wyoming County.
Coming in second (at four deaths in each county) were the counties of Cabell, Lincoln, McDowell, Mercer, Monongalia and Wayne. Although a .08 BAC is considered driving under the influence, for drivers under the age of 21, a DUI can be issued for a BAC of .02. A car accident lawyer can decipher West Virginia fatal car accident statistics for clients who may need to file claims.
