Five of the top causes of car accidents include driver distraction, intoxication, fatigue, reckless driving, and speeding. Regardless of the at-fault driver’s intention, the accident they cause can lead to injuries and emotional trauma for the victim. If you are in this situation, our team is ready to help you.
When you are suffering injuries after a car accident, you have legal options. Our firm will work with you and file a claim or lawsuit on your behalf. A car accident lawyer from our team will guide you through the legal process, help you find clinics and doctors to treat your injuries and fight for your fair financial recovery.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
No matter how your accident happened, you may feel frustrated in its aftermath. When someone else is the reason you are dealing with injuries and property damage, you likely want to seek justice.
Our team works with survivors of many types of car accidents. Five of the common causes of car accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Eating, changing the radio, and dealing with children and other passengers are all examples of distracted driving. Electronic devices such as cell phones and GPS units can also steal a person’s attention away from the road. In fact, texting and talking on cell phones is a leading cause of accidents involving distracted drivers, per the National Safety Council.
Driving Under the Influence
Even at low blood alcohol concentrations, drinking can impair a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and ability to operate their vehicle safely. Some drunk driving accidents result in severe injuries or fatalities. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drunk driving takes 32 lives every day in the United States.
Speeding
When a person drives too fast, they reduce the amount of time they have to slow down, stop, or otherwise react to changes in road or traffic conditions. Unfortunately, speeding also decreases a driver’s ability to control their vehicle. So, when a driver causes a collision at a high speed, those involved can suffer severe or even fatal injuries.
Reckless or Aggressive Driving
Reckless driving includes violating traffic laws and disregarding the safety of other drivers. Reckless driving can also involve running stop signs or red lights, tailgating, improper lane changes, and driving on the wrong side of the road. These actions can cause T-bone collisions, rear-ending accidents, sideswipe accidents, and more.
Fatigued Driving
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), fatigued driving is comparable to driving while drunk. Tired drivers can experience visual challenges and delayed reaction time, causing disastrous collisions. The situation becomes worse if a driver falls asleep at the wheel.
Fatigued driving accidents become even more critical when the person suffering from fatigue is operating a large commercial vehicle. For example, long-haul truck drivers often endure monotonous driving conditions, long hours without sleep, and pressure to meet deadlines to deliver cargo.
According to the National Safety Council, most people fatally wounded in truck accidents are passengers in other vehicles. It’s important to get rest before operating a vehicle of any size.
How to Avoid Car Accidents
You should know about the common causes of car accidents so you can try to prevent driver error. You can help reduce your risk of causing an accident by carefully adhering to the following safety measures:
- Keep your eyes on the road at all times. If you have to attend to a distraction, such as taking a call, pull over to avoid driving while distracted.
- Never drink or do drugs and drive. If you are questioning whether or not you should be operating a vehicle after you’ve used a substance, you probably shouldn’t be. Remember, even seemingly harmless prescription drugs can cause unanticipated drowsiness, dizziness, and disorientation, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Always obey traffic laws, even if you don’t think it will do any harm to “bend” the rules. Speed limits, traffic lights, and other traffic signs are there for a reason.
- Leave your anger at the door. Feelings of anxiety, irritation, or frustration may escalate if someone cuts you off in traffic. It’s best to wait until you feel clear-headed to drive.
- Avoid driving while tired, and ensure you get enough rest. Other drivers are counting on you being awake and alert–not just to ensure you drive safely but also so you can react immediately when something occurs that warrants taking quick action.
Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Car Accident Case
Our team understands how difficult it is to recover after a car accident. You need to spend time focusing on your physical recovery and mental health. Let the team at Domingo Garcia manage your car accident case.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
