According to OPP data recently released by the Ontario Provincial Police, provincial crash statistics show that men are twice as likely as women to die in motor vehicle collisions. The data was released on March 23 and covered the past 10 years.
Between 2005 and 2014, 2,358 men were killed in crashes. During the same time period, 1,146 women died in car accidents in Ontario. A majority of the men who were killed in accidents were not driving correctly at the time of their accidents. According to the data, only 450 of the men who died were driving correctly at the time of their fatal wrecks.
The data also demonstrated that men most at risk were between the ages of 25 and 34. The OPP’s deputy commissioner stated that the data demonstrates how problematic poor driving behaviour is. Of all of the people killed during the time period, including women, nearly 70 percent were drivers, 7 percent were pedestrians, and 23 percent were vehicle passengers. Police did indicate that the number of children killed in accidents has decreased significantly, one piece of positive news revealed by the data.
Drivers owe a duty of care to drive responsibly and with caution. When a driver instead is negligent, they run the risk of causing a serious car accident. In cases in which a driver causing a serious injury accident dies, the injured victim may still be able to file a personal injury lawsuit, naming the deceased driver’s estate as the defendant. Through a lawsuit, injured victims may be able to recover damages they need in order to be compensated for the losses they have suffered. People who have been seriously injured in a collision caused by a negligent driver may benefit by seeking help from a personal injury lawyer.