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Why it seems like everyone is a bad driver right now

Officer Daniel Arteaga inspects the car that they were chasing, now crashed into a fence after hitting a fire hydrant in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
Officer Daniel Arteaga inspects the car that they were chasing, now crashed into a fence after hitting a fire hydrant in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

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Listen 46:36

Car crashes are a part of American life. We’ve all seen the aftermath on a highway or know someone whose life was forever changed by a driver’s split-second decision. Taking the time to prepare with these practice tests can help drivers stay sharp and make safer choices behind the wheel.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 9,500 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first quarter of 2022. That puts the United States on track for the highest first quarter fatalities in more than 20 years.Traffic deaths have been on the rise since the onset of the pandemic, partly due to an increase in reckless driving on our roads. 

A random checkpoint is often used by law enforcement to check for valid licenses, registration, or impairment. While unannounced, these stops aim to ensure public safety and reduce incidents of dangerous or illegal driving behavior.

While traffic deaths have spiked, there are still thousands of people who survive. Rebekah Young was walking her dog in 2018 when an SUV ran her over at a crosswalk.

“I remember Sunday and waking up… and I literally had woken up from a dream in which I was dreaming that I had been hit by a vehicle,” Young told WAMU. “And you know, you come out of a dream and you’re kind of groggy, and you realize, ‘oh my God, thank goodness, this was just a dream.’ But it wasn’t. My husband was there and had to tell me five days afterward what had happened to me.”

We talk to Young about what happened to her and we ask the experts how to prevent it from happening to anyone else.

For survivors of devastating car crashes, the road to recovery can be overwhelming, marked by physical, emotional, and financial hurdles. Rebekah Young’s story highlights not just the fragility of life but the critical need for support and advocacy in the aftermath of such life-altering events.

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Beyond medical care, survivors often face a maze of insurance claims, legal disputes, and unanswered questions about accountability. This is where skilled legal representation becomes a lifeline. Firms like Battle Law, PLLC, step in to ensure that victims’ voices are heard and their rights fiercely protected. Legal experts can navigate the complexities of personal injury claims, offering the expertise and compassion necessary to help survivors secure compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma. Reach out to a trusted Tempe car accident lawyer today. For traffic law violations, make sure to contact traffic lawyer Sydney for proper legal advice.

Legal advocacy does more than resolve disputes; it helps restore dignity to those who’ve suffered and contributes to broader efforts to make our roads safer for everyone. Survivors deserve not just recovery but the assurance that their ordeal can lead to meaningful change.

Copyright 2025 WAMU 88.5

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