A North Carolina community is grieving the loss of an 18-year-old college student killed in a car crash in Lee County. According to news reports, William Patterson, known by his friends as “Willie P.,” died from injuries he suffered in the accident. The Sanford, NC, native was an up-and-coming quarterback for the Ferrum College Panthers. The college said that Patterson “was loved by his teammates, friends, faculty, and staff.” The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has not released any information about how the crash happened.
Fatal car accidents are a serious public health problem in North Carolina. The team at Kreger Brodish LLP is here to provide information about crashes in the state and let you know what you can do after a wreck to protect your legal rights.
North Carolina Car Crash Statistics You Should Know
Fatal car accidents happen with alarming frequency in North Carolina. According to the state Department of Transportation, nearly 2,000 people died in car accidents statewide during one recent year. Here are a few other North Carolina car crash statistics that illustrate how devastating these crashes can be:
- About 115,000 people suffered injuries in North Carolina car accidents that year.
- North Carolina’s fatal accident rate was 16.9 deaths for every 100,000 people.
- Speeding was a factor in nearly a quarter of all traffic accident deaths.
- More than 250 pedestrians were killed in car accidents statewide.
- Police recorded more than 12,000 drunk driving crashes statewide, leading to over 8,500 injuries and 400 deaths.
- Transportation officials say distracted drivers contributed to nearly 650 crashes statewide.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in NC
Unfortunately, many car crashes are caused by careless drivers and could be avoidable. Some of the most common causes of car accidents that we see in the cases we handle include the following:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Unsafe lane changes or merges
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Failure to check blind spots
- Aggressive driving behaviors and road rage
- Bad weather or low visibility
- Poorly marked or maintained roadways
- Lack of appropriate signage
- Mechanical defects
Contact an NC Car Crash Lawyer to Fight for Compensation
If you suffered injuries in a North Carolina car crash, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other crash-related expenses. Our car accident attorneys at Kreger Brodish LLP wants to help you pursue the financial relief you deserve after an accident. We can aggressively advocate for your best interests in pursuit of maximum compensation and accountability from at-fault parties.
We know how devastating a car accident can be, so we will handle every detail of your case while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery. You don’t owe us a fee unless we obtain compensation for you. Contact our NC car crash lawyers to fight for compensation. Let us evaluate your case for free during an initial consultation session.
