Car accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence on our roads. In recent years, there were over 6 million accidents resulting in 2.7 million people being injured in the United States. At The Barnes Firm, our team of car accident attorneys have helped over 50,000 clients get the best result possible for their car accident cases. While handling these cases, our attorneys have found the most common car accident causes are:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States and contributes to an estimated 400,000 injuries each year. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. This could include:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone or on video calls
- Eating
- Smoking or vaping
- Changing music
- Adjusting a GPS
- Applying makeup
- Attending to children in car seats or other passengers
- And many more…
When driving, it is important to stay focused on the task of driving and avoiding any distractions. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can have serious and potentially deadly consequences.
Speeding
On average, speeding is a factor in about 30% of traffic fatalities each year. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to other drivers, pedestrians, other unknown hazards, and increases your chances of an accident. It is important to obey posted speed limit signs and adjust your speed for weather and road conditions to stay safe while driving.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
You should never get behind the wheel of any motor vehicle if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving under the influence is extremely dangerous to everyone on the road because it slows your reaction time, impairs thinking, and prevents you from safely operating a vehicle. In the Unites States, over 30 people die each day in drunk driving crashes, accidents that are all preventable. Driving under the influence is illegal in all 50 states.
Reckless or Aggressive Driving
Reckless or aggressive driving is defined as driving with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of other people or property. Examples of reckless driving include tailgating, driving too fast for the road or weather conditions, weaving in and out of traffic, and running red lights or stop signs.
In recent years, over 150,000 people were injured in a crash involving a reckless driver. It is important to always obey traffic laws and avoid unnecessary risks when driving.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can have a significant impact on car accidents. Poor weather conditions, such as rain, snow, fog, and ice, can make driving more dangerous. These conditions can reduce visibility, increase the risk of skidding, and make it difficult to control the car.
Drivers should be aware of the dangers of driving in poor weather and take steps to be cautious on the roads. Drivers should check the weather forecast before driving and avoid driving in bad weather if possible. If driving in bad weather is unavoidable, drivers should drive more slowly and cautiously, increase their following distance, and use their headlights.
Fatigue
Driving while feeling excessively tired or drowsy, including falling asleep at the wheel, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and driving while feeling too tired to concentrate contribute to many car accidents in the United States each year. Tired drivers have slower reaction time, which increases the chance of being involved in an accident.
In recent years, there were over 70,000 people injured in crashes involving a fatigued driver. It is important that drivers get enough sleep before driving, take breaks during long trips, and avoid driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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