What Are The Top 9 Causes of Car Accidents?
Car accidents are extremely common in the United States. Even the most experienced driver will is at risk of accidents.
Some accidents are entirely out of our control, and many motor vehicle accidents are caused by human error and negligent drivers.
While traffic accidents are relatively minor, there are severe accidents that result in a loss of life.
Because your life is at risk every time you get behind the wheel of your car, it’s important to drive carefully and defensively, following all traffic laws.
Your primary goal every time you drive should be preventing a road accident from ever happening.
When you familiarize yourself with the most common causes of car accidents, you give yourself the best chance of not causing one on the roads.
Distracted Drivers
Distracted driving has always been a leading cause of auto accidents, but it becomes a more significant threat each year.
With more things to distract us while driving, it is much easier to put yourself at risk behind the wheel.
When you’re driving, put the phone down, leave the radio alone, and pay attention to the road.
Any call, text, or email can wait until you arrive at your destination.
You also don’t need to try to eat your breakfast, put on makeup, or read while you’re driving either.
A distracted driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver, so focus on the road.
Speeding
Many drivers treat the speed limit as just a suggestion.
They think if they aren’t going 10 or 20 mph over the speed limit, they’re going too slow.
These increased speeds can easily result in a fatal crash, and driving above the speed limit is an easy way to cause a car accident involving someone else.
The faster you drive, the less control you have over your vehicle, and the slower your reaction time will be if you need to prevent an auto accident.
Drunk Driving
Similar to distracted driving, drunk driving has been a leading cause of car accidents for decades.
Drunk driving accidents are another type of accident that is entirely avoidable.
Aside from alcohol, car crashes have also been caused while drivers are under the influence of cocaine, heroin, prescription pills, and many other drugs.
If you are taking prescription medicine, never take one that causes drowsiness before you drive.
If you’re far from home and intoxicated, call a taxi, Uber, or a friend or family member that can get you home safely.
Or stay somewhere until you can regain your sobriety so you aren’t responsible for a fatal car accident.
Everyone thinks they can drive under the influence of alcohol and safely make it to their destination, but the statistics say otherwise.
Driving While Fatigued
Many people understand they shouldn’t drive while tired, but there are still thousands of crashes every year caused by driver fatigue.
Drowsy Driving can affect anyone. It is especially dangerous for drivers because it will affect their ability to react to their surroundings while driving.
Things like sleep deprivation, driving late at night, and being worn out from the day’s activities can negatively impact your reaction time, reduce vigilance, and impair your concentration, all of which can cause a motor vehicle crash.
Driving in Bad Weather
It’s not always possible to avoid driving in the rain.
But if you can, avoid the slippery and dangerous road conditions caused by heavy rains and storms.
If you are driving and it starts raining, and your visibility is low, or the roads seem slick, pull over until the storm passes.
And if it looks like any part of the road is flooded, never try to drive through it.
Running a Red Light
One of the first things we learn as kids riding around with our parents is that red means stop and green means go.
When you don’t stop on red, whether it’s a traffic light or a stop sign, it will usually lead to a car accident.
Thousands of car accidents occur each year because drivers run stop signs and traffic lights.
Routinely running stop signs and red lights increases your chances of causing wrongful death in a side-impact collision or a rollover accident.
To avoid accidents, always stop at red lights and stop signs, and even if the traffic lights are green, you should still look both ways for oncoming cars.
Aggressive Driving
Anger, resentment, and frustration can carry over and influence your actions behind the wheel.
Aggressive driving, otherwise known as road rage, is responsible for roughly 5 million car accidents each year.
Over half of fatal accidents are caused by aggressive driving.
Speeding that we talked about earlier is the most common form of aggressive driving.
Other aggressive behavior behind the wheel includes lane blocking, failing to signal or yield the right of way, tailgating, and disregarding traffic controls.
Any of these behaviors can cause a crash.
The best way to keep yourself from driving aggressively is to calm down, take a deep breath, and relax if you’re faced with a stressful driving environment or if you’re in a mood that makes you impatient and irritable.
We’re all human, and everyone makes mistakes.
However, lapses in judgment while you’re driving can cause disastrous accidents.
Driver Error
Be aware of all of the street signs warning you of one-way streets or other traffic irregularities, especially if you’re driving in a new area.
If you don’t get in the proper lane to make a turn, use your signals properly, or follow traffic laws, accidents will happen.
Look out for traffic signs and obey the proper right-of-way when making a turn.
Winter Driving
When it’s cold outside, the last place you want to be is on the road.
So you’re driving safely, but you aren’t wasting any time.
But the next thing you know, you’ve hit a sheet of black ice, and your car is spinning uncontrollably.
Ice is a significant cause of traffic accidents in the wintertime.
Dangerous mixtures of snow and ice are also a recipe for a car accident.
Like rain, if you can avoid driving in snow and ice, please do so.
Driver errors and reckless driving are significant contributors to car accidents.
If you don’t pay attention while you’re driving, there’s a good chance you’ll end up in a needless car accident.
Reckless Driving
Reckless drivers who speed, change lanes without warning, or tailgate experience their fair share of car accidents.
Reckless are aggressive drivers and impatient in traffic, so be sure to keep your eye out for them and be sure you don’t become one of them.
Conclusion
The number of car accidents that occur each year in the United States can be reduced if people know what causes accidents so they can proactively avoid them.
However, some accidents aren’t avoidable, and even the most experienced and careful drivers can be involved in a motor vehicle accident because of the negligent actions of another driver.
If you are an accident victim and have suffered injuries in an automobile accident that was no fault of your own, you may be entitled to obtain compensation for your damages from the at-fault party.
It’s in your best interest to contact an experienced car accident lawyer so you can be sure to receive the compensation you deserve for your damages.
Proper legal representation from an accident attorney will ensure you aren’t taken advantage of by your insurance company.
For your Free Consultation after a car crash in Atlanta, contact the auto accident attorneys at the Mabra Law Firm today.