The Link Between The Pandemic & Car Accidents

You would not necessarily think that there would be a correlation between COVID-19 and car accidents on the road – except perhaps that car accident rates possibly decreased during the pandemic because there were fewer people out on the roads. However, below, we discuss some of the most interesting correlations between COVID, vaccinations, and accident rates, and they will likely shock you:

Car Crash Deaths Surge

Car accident deaths actually surged during the COVID pandemic: 2020 saw the highest numbers of crashes on the road since 2007 even though the pandemic itself drastically reduced the overall number of cars regularly on the road. The latest evidence indicates that, even with decades of safety measures, the pandemic essentially made U.S. drivers more reckless – i.e. more likely to drink or use drugs, not use their seatbelts, and speed.

Many are now concerned that these ‘bad habits’ will persist long after the initial outbreak of COVID because they reflect a broader, deeper issue involving overwhelming feelings of depression, isolation, and loneliness on behalf of the general population. As a result, experts refer to COVID-19 as marking a “sea change in psychology,” whereby reckless driving is almost a reaction or “arousal breakout” to the virus.

Unvaccinated Individuals More Likely to Get in Accidents

In addition, according to new studies published in the American Journal of Medicine, people who did not get the COVID vaccine are more likely to get into a car accident; Specifically, these individuals were found to be 72 percent more likely to be involved in a severe traffic crash, whereby at least one person has to go to the hospital as a result. This is similar to the increase in car crash numbers for those with sleep apnea, and only about half that of drivers who abuse alcohol.

According to the researchers, this extra risk essentially negates the safety gains from modern automobile engineering advances and imposes extra risks to others on the road. Researchers hypothesize that the correlation can likely be explained due to those who resist public health recommendations (such as getting vaccinated) also being more likely to neglect basic road safety guidelines. A number of characteristics can contribute to this, including but not limited to distrust of the government and regulations, differentiating beliefs in freedom, misunderstanding basic daily risks, beliefs and faith in natural protection, poverty, a lack of resources, and other personal beliefs.

Researchers are pointing out that the study indications are serious enough to warrant doctors to consider counseling unvaccinated patients on traffic safety issues, and even the potential for the results to affect insurance policies. They also point out that because it is more likely for someone who has been in a traffic crash to be unvaccinated, first responders should also consider taking extra precautions to protect themselves from getting COVID when attending to an accident.

Reach Out to Us Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident or another personal injury incident involving negligence, contact our Macon personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Buzzell, Welsh & Hill today to find out how we can help.

Sources:

amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(22)00822-1/fulltext

latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-12-08/traffic-deaths-surged-during-covid-19-pandemic-heres-why