Over the past year, this county has seen a large number of car accidents take place, many of which were unnecessary, leading to serious casualties.
Figures obtained by Accident Claims Advice found that there have been nearly 1,500 road traffic collisions involving cars across Dorset in the past year.
Many deaths and serious injuries on the road are preventable tragedies, and yet, on average, five people die every day on the road in the UK, and 80 are seriously injured.
According to provisional data released by the Department for Transport (DfT), the UK experienced a 12% rise in reported road traffic accidents in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
Fatal accidents saw a 7% increase, while serious injuries climbed by 15%. Factors such as post-pandemic increases in road usage, adverse weather patterns, and distracted driving are cited as primary contributors to this alarming trend.
Road Traffic Accident Manager for JF Law, Tracey Chick, said: “Each road traffic incident represents a moment of distress and potential life-altering consequences for those involved.
“If you have been involved in an accident, your safety should be the immediate priority, before exchanging details with the other involved parties, and reporting the incident to the police if there are injuries or significant damage.”
Over the past year, Dorset Police have logged 1,391 collisions across their area of remit, providing a breakdown of the roads where the most accidents occurred.
The most road traffic collisions occurred on the A35, with 141 accidents, followed by the A354, which saw 62 accidents take place.
Several factors contribute to road accidents in the UK, some of which are preventable with more attention to safe driving practices.
One of the major contributing factors to car crashes is speeding, as it is responsible for nearly one-third of all fatal collisions and sees the risk of severe accidents increase dramatically.
Another factor is distracted driving, as the use of mobile phones, even hands-free, significantly distracts drivers and is a growing cause of accidents. Studies suggest that a distracted driver is four times more likely to be involved in an accident.
Accident Claims Advice also obtained figures on the most common causes for road traffic collisions logged by Dorset Police in the past year.
Driver errors were the most common cause, resulting in 941 collisions, followed by injudicious actions, which led to 348 accidents.
Tracey Chick said: “While it is important to many, driving has many dangers attached to it, including distractions, excessive speed and even adverse weather conditions, which can all turn a routine journey into a serious incident.
“Regarding eligibility to claim, it’s vital to understand that every case is unique. Generally, if you’ve suffered injury or damage due to the negligence of another driver, you may be eligible to pursue a claim for compensation.
“We urge all drivers to obey traffic laws and prioritise the safety of themselves and other road users, as a split-second decision can have lifelong consequences. Let’s all commit to making our roads safer.”
Accident Claims Advice provides expert claim and legal advice services for those who may have been involved in a road traffic accident.
They operate a 24-hour helpline and an online claim form, which can be accessed on their website.
