Which causes more deaths in the United States on average, guns or car accidents? Your answer was car accidents, by a lot. Right? Well, not exactly. According to a report on public health, there were 33,804 fatalities as a result of auto accidents in nationwide. The number of people who died from guns? 33,636. This is less than the number of people who died in car accidents, but not by much. In fact, these numbers show that gun and car accidents kill almost the same number of people each year. The number of car accidents has been declining over the years, but that has not been true for gun-related fatalities. What is the difference in perception between guns and cars? While society accepts that cars are dangerous and should be regulated, perceptions on gun safety are different.
What Is The Perception On Car Safety?
Using a car is arguably heavily regulated. Before being allowed to drive, drivers must have a license that usually requires training and testing. There is a process in place and a governmental agency that oversees this. In addition, there are other requirements to drive a vehicle such as obtaining insurance and having the vehicle inspected. While moving, drivers have to follow hundreds of laws regarding operation and safety. Driving is pretty well regulated and we don’t complain because we don’t view this regulation as the government trying to take away our cars.
How Do Perceptions On Gun Safety And Car Safety Differ?
There is a shift in perception when it comes to gun safety laws. Some believe that there should be more gun regulation while others believe that there should be less. Gun safety laws do exist, but they are not consistent among states and they are certainly not always as comprehensive as our vehicle safety laws. But what makes the issue of gun safety different is the emotion and controversy surrounding it. Gun safety is framed as a freedom issue and a right afforded by the U.S. Constitution, driving is a privilege which can be taken away at any time if you violate the rules of the road. In other words, gun ownership is about rights, while driving is about safety and following laws. But aside from the differing perceptions, the reality is that guns injure many people.
How Can Someone Injured By A Gun Get Help?
Given the fact that almost the same number of people die in gun-related incidents as they do in car accidents, something needs to be done. Guns also cause serious injuries such as disfigurement, nerve damage, and burns. This can result in high medical bills, loss of income and other expenses. When a person is injured by a gun, the person who caused the injury needs to be held responsible. This is where a Rhode Island personal injury lawyer can help.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a gun, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost income, among other losses. A Rhode Island personal injury lawyer can help you better understand all of your options. Experienced personal injury lawyers at d’Oliveira & Associates can help you. Our firm charges no legal fees unless you receive a settlement or award. For a free no obligation case evaluation, call us toll-free at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form online.
Paul d’Oliveira
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.
Rate this Post
Loading...