It is estimated that every adult driver will be involved in a car accident approximately three times during their driving lifetime. Unfortunately, many of these drivers suffer fatal injuries. There are also many victims that do survive, but their injuries are so severe, they are left with permanent disabilities. The following are some of the most common causes of car accidents that occur today.
Distracted Driving
Despite all the education and warnings, distracted driving has become one of the most common – if not the most common – causes of car accidents. In fact, one in every four car accidents is the result of a driver engaging in some type of distracted driving activity. The most common distracted driving activity is texting, checking social media, etc., but there are other activities that also qualify as distracting, including setting a GPS or fiddling with a radio, eating, drinking, grooming, and even talking to passengers in the vehicle.
Drunk Driving
Alcohol-related car accidents are still a major issue in this country. While many people do make efforts to make other arrangement if they are going to be drinking – designated drivers, Ubers, taxis, etc. – there are still far too many who make the fatal decision to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after they have been drinking. And because of those decisions, a victim is killed every 50 minutes in drunk driving accidents.
Fatigued Driving
Operating a vehicle while fatigued or drowsy can be just as dangerous as driving drunk. Fatigued driving is also becoming a serious issue in this country, leading to the deaths of more than 1,000 people annually. These crashes usually occur between the very early morning hours and late afternoon. This is due to our body’s internal rhythm that automatically falls during these times, causing us to feel a lack of energy.
Speeding and Other Traffic Violations
Speeding is another common cause of crashes. These accidents are also often the most deadly due to the force of the impact of one speeding car hitting another vehicle. Other common traffic violations that lead to car accidents include:
- Going through a red light or stop sign
- Tailgating
- Failure to use turn signals
- Improper turns
- Passing in no passing zones
- Aggressive driving
Call a Car Accident Law Firm
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to damages if the crash was caused by another driver. A car accident lawyer can evaluate your case and determine what type of financial compensation you may be entitled to. This can include compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, permanent disability, and more. It is important to realize that every state has set its own statute of limitations to how long a victim has to file a car accident claim. Once that timeframe has expired, you will not be able to pursue a claim.
Thanks to our friends at Wandres Law, P.C. for their insight into car accidents.