With all the information and technology available today regarding safe driving, you would think that U.S. roads would be safer than ever. After all, cars have features to correct lane departures and brake automatically, we have apps to prevent distracted driving and there is a wealth of information about the dangers of impaired driving.

Unfortunately, according to recent statistics and estimates, the number of fatal car accidents in the U.S. is believed to have increased in 2015, prompting federal agencies to look for new ways to improve safety.

Early calculations show that in the first six months of this year, fatality rates due to motor vehicle accidents have increased by 8.1 percent compared to the same time last year. While these numbers are estimates and only represent the first half of this year, federal agencies are taking these preliminary numbers seriously.

The increase in fatal accidents is certainly troubling, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as it represents a departure from the decrease in accidents that has generally been seen in recent years. In order to address this, agencies are pushing for improved behavioral safety programs and are working to create solutions for drowsy driving.

It can be very difficult to appreciate how these numbers affect us as individual drivers here in Tampa, but essentially it should remind us that there are still plenty of unsafe motorists on the road. People continue to drive drunk, recklessly or while distracted which puts the lives of everyone around them in danger of being hurt or killed in a crash.

However, if you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in an accident, it is important to understand that you are not just a number or statistic in a federal report. You have rights and legal options to protect yourself and your loved ones and hold the party responsible for your accident accountable. Working with an attorney to do this can help you pursue the closure and compensation you deserve.