In the United States alone, there are over 6 million car accidents each year. There are a variety of causes of car accidents that are responsible for the wreckage that millions of motorists must face each year. Familiarizing yourself with the most common causes of car accidents can help you prepare to be safer while you’re on the road.
If you’re interested in road safety or are simply just curious about car accidents, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our breakdown of the most common causes of car accidents and tips to avoid them.
Driver Related Accidents
To better understand the top causes of car accidents, we can first break the causes down into two different categories. The first category we’ll focus on is driver-related accidents. These accidents are specifically due to the fault of the driver of the vehicle.
Distracted Driving
When it comes to car crashes caused by distracted driving, the margin of error is very high. Distracted driving can come in many forms and varies on person to person basis.
One of the most common types of distracted driving is texting or cellphone usage while driving. In the United States, distracted driving killed over 2,000 people in 2018 alone. While distracted driving is common for all age groups. It is a major leading cause of car crashes for younger generations.
As mentioned previously, distracted driving can take many forms that aren’t just related to texting. Other activities that lead to distracted driving could include taking your eyes off the road, eating, reaching in the back seat, and much more.
Driving While Under the Influence
It’s no secret that drunk driving is a major issue across the globe. In fact, a DUI or driving under the influence is one of the most common traffic violations across the United States. Drunk driving not only affects the driver but everyone else on the road as well.
Driving while under the influence of drugs is also a major offense that is not to be taken lightly. While some states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes, driving while under the influence is still illegal and a major offense.
Sleeping
We’ve all been on long car rides where we’ve started to get a bit tired while driving. Falling asleep while driving affects a major portion of the population, whether on long car rides or simply driving home from work.
Even being fatigued but not falling completely asleep is still dangerous when driving. Being a tired driver can significantly lower your reaction times and the ability to make quick decisions and obey traffic laws.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving can include everything from crossing a double yellow line to aggressively cutting someone off in traffic. No matter your reason for reckless driving, the act can clearly cause significant risk for yourself and other drivers around you.
Not Obeying Redlights and Stop Signs
Redlights and stop signs are put in place for a reason. A major cause of car accidents across the globe is the ignoring of traffic signals and laws. Whether you’re in a hurry to get to work or you don’t look both ways before turning at a stop sign, not obeying these rules can have serious and even life-threatening effects.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common offenses that many people encounter throughout their driving career. You probably know someone who has gotten a speeding ticket before. Perhaps you yourself have even encountered this first hand. While speeding itself isn’t always the cause of car accidents, the effects speeding can have on your ability to maintain control of your vehicle can be a major cause of crashes.
Speeding vehicles tend to have slower reaction times and can even be harder to control on the road. In the event of a car accident, the car’s speed can severely affect the injuries sustained by the driver and passengers.
Non-Driver Related Accidents
Non-driver-related accidents are accidents that happen due to reasons that are outside of the drivers’ control. While these types of accidents are less common, they still make up a portion of accidents.
Weather Conditions
If you’ve driven through the rain or snow before, you know how scary driving in difficult weather conditions can be. If your vehicle is not meant for colder weather, driving through the snow can be tough to manage.
Even if you’re an experienced driver, weather can be highly unpredictable and lead to hazardous conditions on the road. Many weather conditions can make vehicles more hazardous if they aren’t properly maintained or prepared for winter weather.
Road Conditions
Sometimes the roads themselves can be the problem when it comes to car crashes. Potholes and other unsafe road hazards have been known to lead to car crashes and dangerous conditions. Issues such as road construction, downed powerlines, potholes, and many more are leading causes of car crashes due to hazardous road conditions.
Vehicle Defects
While not as common as the other causes on this list, vehicle defects are still a major force to be reckoned with. The manufacturer might recall your vehicle due to hazardous materials or mechanisms that can lead to crashes. Or, unsafe conditions if your vehicle were to be in an accident.
Vehicle defects can also be caused by the lack of maintenance of your vehicle. When ensuring the safety of your vehicle on the road, performing regular tune-ups and checks on your car is an absolute must.
Preventing the Causes of Car Accidents
When it comes to preventing the causes of car accidents, there are several things you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Being aware of your well-being and surroundings is an absolute must every time you get on the road.
If you’re looking to become a safer driver, one of the best things you can do is to stay informed and know what to look out for. If you should ever find yourself in trouble, know what resources are available to you.
CONTACT A TAMPA AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
In short, after a car accident, you may not know your rights. Above all, don’t struggle through the process alone. Actually, our personal injury team is here to help you with any legal needs you might have regarding your accident.
Lastly, let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.
