At some point, whether it is only a fender bender or a much serious incident, most people will likely be involved in a car accident. In fact, according to the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Transportation and Safety Board, someone is involved in a car accident every ten seconds. However, the type of accident and level of severity of any car accident varies.

Montana residents may find it interesting to know that the total number of fatal car accident on Montana roads has shot up by nearly 10 percent in 2013 when compared with figures from 2012. According to the Montana Highway Patrol, there were a little less than 200 crashes that resulted in the death of 224 people in 2013. In 2012 the totals for the year were a little over 190 crashes that resulted in a little over 200 deaths. Though the 2013 increase in auto accidents, and overall deaths is distressing especially when compared with the figures from 2011 and 2012, which showed an overall decrease in fatalities in 2012 from the year before, there is cause for celebration.

According to MHP, the state has made a concerted effort in stepping up its 24/7 patrol for drivers driving under the influence and drunken driving enforcement. In fact, the total number of crashes that resulted in fatalities in which alcohol consumption was 53% in 2012, whereas the number in 2013 was only 37%. That translates to a remarkable 30% decrease in 2013 over 2012. The same downward trend is also evident in the total number of fatalities resulting from those crashes. In 2012 the total fatalities was 57%, and in 2013 it dropped to 41%.

The 2013 statistic from MHP indicate that even though DWI enforcement has improved, deaths resulting from car accidents has increased. For anyone who has been involved in a car accident and suffered serious injury should consider contacting a personal injury attorney to evaluate their legal options.

Source: Missoulian, “Crash deaths up 10 percent in Montana for 2013,” Zach Benoit, Dec. 31, 2013