New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in the country when it comes to auto accidents, according to a recent “report card” issued by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, an alliance of consumer, health, and safety groups, as well as insurance companies, that work together to make U.S. roads safer for traveling.

It is estimated that the total cost of car crashes in New Jersey in 2014 was nearly $13 billion, a figure that accounts for medical bills, property damage and lost productivity. To put this amount in perspective, New Jersey was the fourth-most expensive state in the country, behind only New York, Texas and California.

Nationwide, car accidents caused more than 32,000 deaths and resulted in injuries to approximately 2.3 million people in 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Moreover, the annual cost of all car accidents in the U.S. is estimated to be roughly $836 billion.

When issuing its report on road safety laws in New Jersey and other states, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety specifically blamed “anemic leadership by governors and state legislatures” for failing to pass adequate laws to reduce the number of car accidents, truck accidents and motorcycle accidents on roadways. Jacqueline Gillan, president of the auto safety alliance, also took state lawmakers to task for “needlessly delaying enactment of lifesaving laws.”

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety’s report card highlighted several flaws in New Jersey traffic safety laws, including:

• The New Jersey Legislature’s failure to require patrol officers to stop vehicles in which an adult seated in the rear is not wearing a seatbelt.
• The NJ Legislature’s failure to require teenagers to undergo 50 hours of supervised driver training prior to obtaining a driver’s license.
• NJ Governor Chris Christie’s veto of a DUI law that would have mandated installation of ignition interlock devices for all drunk driving offenders.
• The failure of New Jersey lawmakers to impose a curfew earlier than 11:00 p.m. for teenage drivers in their first year with a license.

For more information, view the NorthJersey.com article, “Road Warrior: Coalition Finds Flaws in N.J. Road Safety Laws.”

Whether you drive a car or ride a motorcycle, you never know when you could be involved in an accident that leaves you with serious injuries. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a motorcycle accident, it is imperative that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney who is passionate about fighting for the rights of riders. Andrew S. Prince of Team Law will work tirelessly to get you the maximum compensation possible in your personal injury lawsuit.