Police: Wichita Car Accident Fatalities Are On The Rise

Car accident fatalities in Wichita, Kansas, have increased steadily in recent years, according to Wichita police, who are concerned about the consistent rise in motor vehicle fatalities in Kansas’ largest city.

“We’ve had more traffic fatalities in the last couple of years than homicides. I just think it’s a combination of things,” Wichita Police Department Captain Wendell Nicholson said in an interview with KSNW News.

Wichita car accident deaths by the numbers

This year so far, 38 people have died in motor vehicle accidents in Wichita, according to Wichita police interviewed by KSNW News. To put such numbers in perspective, there were 47 motor vehicle deaths for the entire year in Wichita last year.

Here’s another startling statistic. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, there have been 700 to 800 car accidents per month in Wichita, even though there were fewer vehicles on the road, especially during the start of the pandemic, Wichita police told KSNW News.

Regionwide, there have been 61 car accident fatalities each year during the most recent five-year period for Sedgwick County. Such data for 2016 to 2020 was compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Why are Wichita car accident fatalities higher?

Police cited several reasons why car accident deaths have been higher in recent years in Wichita. One reason is a dramatic increase in pedestrian fatalities in recent years in the city. This year alone, there have already been a record-high 14 pedestrian deaths in Wichita, police told KSNW News. For comparison, there were six pedestrian fatalities in Sedgwick County in 2020.

However, according to police, Wichita isn’t the only place that has experienced increased pedestrian fatalities in recent years. “You’ve also seen a spike nationwide in traffic fatalities and pedestrian deaths,” Nicholson told KSNW News. “It’s not just something that’s unique to Wichita. Most of these, all of these fatalities, are preventable. People just need to slow down, be defensive, and be aware of their surroundings.”

Why should I hire a Wichita car accident attorney?

Another driver caused your Wichita car accident. All you have to do is call the police, and they will take care of everything, right? While it’s true that the police investigate serious and fatal car accidents, their investigation does not focus on how much money injury victims receive for their accident-related expenses.

That’s our job. And as your attorney, we will work tirelessly to help you obtain the maximum financial compensation you deserve. This money can be a lifeline for many injury victims who have suffered damages as a result of their accidents, including medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and other related costs.

If you or someone you care about was injured in an accident, contact Warner Law Offices to see how an experienced Wichita car accident attorney can help you.