Toronto car accident lawyers explain what Ontario drivers need to know
The City of Toronto’s goal of zero car accident fatalities will fall short again this year, according to accident statistics and a recent Toronto Star story about the city’s “Vision Zero” program, which aims to eliminate motor vehicle accident deaths in the city completely.
“The stats in some ways speak for themselves,” said Matti Siemiatycki, professor of geography and planning at the University of Toronto, in an interview with the Toronto Star. The interview was about several recent car accident fatalities in the city on Labour Day weekend, which pushed Toronto's car accident death toll to 42 fatalities.
Any efforts designed to eliminate motor vehicle accident fatalities in Toronto should be encouraged. Sadly, our Toronto car accident lawyers at Smitiuch Injury Law have seen how fatal motor vehicle crashes caused by reckless drivers can turn an entire family’s world upside down. That's why we fight so hard for the justice and financial compensation our clients deserve.
Roadway fatalities remain a problem
The City of Toronto adopted the Vision Zero plan in 2017, according to the Toronto Star. The year before, Toronto set a record for motor vehicle accident deaths. In 2016, a record 78 people were killed that year, according to the City of Toronto statistics. That figure includes:
- 44 pedestrian fatalities (the highest annual total in a decade)
- 27 car accident deaths (record high for the past 10 years)
- 6 motorcycle fatalities
- 1 cyclist fatality
Since then, overall fatalities have decreased most years in Toronto. However, there have been increases in some years, including last year, when overall fatalities increased from 40 deaths in 2020 to 60 deaths in 2021.
Why fatal crashes happen in Toronto
Car accidents caused by other drivers often occur because the at-fault driver was behaving in a reckless or negligent manner. Specific causes of collisions often include:
- Speeding, which accounts for 27 percent of motor vehicle accidents in Canada, according to a Carsurance.net study based on Government of Canada car accident statistics.
- Distracted driving, including texting while driving. One recent study in Ontario found that distracted drivers cause an accident every 30 minutes, according to Ontario.ca.
- Drinking and driving, which was a factor in 17.6 percent of fatal car accidents in Canada, according to the latest statistics compiled by Transport Canada.
- Tired drivers, who account for 2.5 percent of fatal car accidents in Canada, according to the latest Transport Canada statistics.
How a Toronto car accident lawyer can help you
You might think you don’t need a lawyer to recover your losses if another driver clearly caused your collision. However, many claims involving crashes in Toronto and the GTA turn out to be much more complicated than expected. Either the other driver or the at-fault driver’s insurance company might deny responsibility or try to blame you for causing your collision.
Our experienced Toronto car accident lawyers at Smitiuch Injury Law have the knowledge and skills you need to build a strong legal case. Whether you pursue compensation in the form of an injury claim or a car accident lawsuit, we can be there for you every step of the way.
Learn more about your legal rights. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a Toronto car accident lawyer who puts your best interests first. Our law firm has three offices conveniently located in Toronto, Brantford, and Simcoe, Ontario.
