DON’T CALL IT A CAR ACCIDENT

Car accidents. Car wrecks. Car collisions. Car crashes. No matter what you call them, they happen all too often. Fatalities and injuries suffered on the road are on the rise in Texas and nationwide. But does the terminology make a difference?

According to a recent article in the New York Times, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other traffic safety advocates say that it does. Many are arguing for an elimination of the term “car accident,” saying that it implies that nobody was at fault. The term “trivializes the single most common cause of traffic incidents: human error.”

Will A Change In Language Have An Impact?

The vast majority of traffic crashes are the result of someone doing something wrong: drinking and driving, texting and driving, speeding. Only a small percentage can be attributed to something like inclement weather or an auto defect.

The majority of states in the country have taken some sort of action to move away from use of the term “car accident.” It is being removed from police reports, insurance reports and more. The question remains: Will such changes have an impact?

The campaign against the use of the term “car accidents” has had its detractors, who argue that the general public is comfortable with the term, a change would be confusing and that the debate over the term will not solve the problem.

Advocates state that a change in terminology is a step worth taking in order to prevent the implication that negligent drivers are let off the hook for wrongdoing that causes car wrecks.

Do Not Let Negligent Drivers Off The Hook

Regardless of terminology, victims of car wrecks have legal options. When a person is injured in a car wreck caused by another driver’s negligence, the victim can file a personal injury claim in order to hold the negligent driver accountable and to seek compensation for medical bills and other expenses. Furthermore, the negligent driver may face criminal consequences, particularly if he or she was driving drunk.

At Lloyd & DuPuy, we are advocates for auto wreck victims. If you or a loved one has been hurt because of another driver’s negligence, we recognize that it was no accident. We will help you pursue justice and compensation so you can move forward with your life.

On behalf of Devon DuPuy of Lloyd & DuPuy PLLC posted in Personal Injury on Thursday, June 2, 2016.