The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

11:02 25 July 2021

Getting involved in a car wreck can be incredibly stressful. Injuries, property damage, and ongoing trauma are all common, and accident victims often suffer even more in the aftermath due to high medical bills and lost wages.

 

There are plenty of ways to stay safe on the road. Unfortunately, though, not all car accidents are avoidable. Read on to find out about the top causes of automotive accidents to get a better understanding of how to avoid them, when possible, and what to do afterward if the crash can't be avoided.

 

1. Distracted Driving

There are many kinds of accidents that can leave victims searching for an accident attorney, but distracted driving is the most common one. According to the CDC, around eight people die every day in distracted driving accidents, many of them through no fault of their own. 

 

When other drivers start paying too much attention to their phones, passengers, or even their lunch, and too little to the road, it can endanger everyone around them. Passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists can all experience serious injuries, or even wrongful deaths, as a result. The best way to avoid distracted driving is to pay attention only to the road.

 

2. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Anyone who chooses to drink or use drugs before getting behind the wheel is making a choice to put themselves and others at risk. Drinking and drug use can both dull the senses and slow down reaction times, resulting in accidents that would not have occurred if everyone was sober. Never drink or use drugs before getting behind the wheel of a car, and always designate a sober driver.

 

3. Speeding

Just about anyone who has ever driven a car has seen someone flying by on the highway doing 10 or 20 miles over the speed limit. Speeding increases the chances of getting into an accident because it slows down people's reaction times. 

 

If one or more of the vehicles involved were speeding, it also increases the chances that accident victims will sustain more serious injuries. When drivers are speeding, get out of their way. People who speed excessively are also more likely to engage in other reckless driving behaviors that could endanger nearby drivers.

 

4. Reckless Driving

Reckless driving can cause serious injuries. It often involves risk-taking behaviors like tailgating, cutting other cars off, or weaving in and out of traffic. When more conscientious drivers see people taking unnecessary risks on the road, the best thing for them to do is to back off on the speed and give the reckless drivers space. If the behavior is extreme, it may be worth calling the traffic authorities.

 

5. Running Intersections

Everyone knows that red means stop, but not all drivers pay sufficient attention to stop signs and red lights. Some people are tempted to speed up when the light turns yellow, for example, or to roll through stop signs in historically unpopulated areas. 

 

It's very important to come to a full stop at every stop sign to allow time to check for other traffic, especially since there's no way to control other people on the road. The same goes for stopping at yellow lights. Drivers can't stop others from running intersections, but they can protect themselves by making sure they notice it happening.

 

6. Unsafe Lane Changes

When passing vehicles, drivers are taught to leave plenty of space. If there's not enough room to pass safely, they shouldn't try it. Unfortunately, people don't always pay close attention to what's happening on either side of their vehicles before they decide to change lanes.

 

Defensive drivers can only do so much to prevent accidents due to unsafe lane changes. They can pay attention to what other drivers are doing and honk if they notice someone trying to change lanes nearby without enough space, but that's about it.

 

7. Improper Turns

Intersections on larger roads often have multiple lanes going in each direction. Drivers are supposed to pay attention to official signage and get in the correct lane to make a turn before approaching the intersections, but they don't always do that. Last-minute corrections sometimes lead reckless drivers to cut across lanes at the last minute, increasing the risk of accidents for themselves and everyone else around them.

 

It's easy to miss turns in unfamiliar cities. Don't cut across lanes to cut in at the last minute. Just keep going straight and find someplace safe to turn around.

 

8. Wrong-Way Driving

Out-of-town drivers often get turned around when they aren't familiar with new areas. Sometimes, they wind up going the wrong way down one-way roads or even drive the wrong way down highway offramps. 

 

Wrong-way driving can be especially dangerous because it tends to take other drivers by surprise. No one expects to see a car barreling down the road going the wrong way on a one-way, so reaction times tend to be slow. Drivers from out of town should review their routes carefully and pay attention to all the road signs to make sure they don't wind up driving the wrong way down roads or offramps.

 

9. Design Defects

Sometimes, accidents occur due to design defects rather than human errors on the part of drivers. Design defects used to be fairly straightforward issues such as improperly weighted vehicles that were prone to tipping. Now, driver-assistance technology has muddied the waters and made the situation even more complicated.

 

Advocates of driver-assistance tech say that it saves lives, and that may be true. However, active driver-assist systems experience some kind of glitch every eight miles on average. Drivers still need to pay careful attention to road conditions and other vehicles to avoid accidents caused by faulty tech.

 

The Bottom Line

Sometimes, accidents happen, and they're no one's fault. The reality of automotive accidents, though, is that most of them are caused by the negligence or recklessness of other drivers. 

 

When a driver or passenger is injured due to the actions of another person or an automotive manufacturer, it's always wise to speak with a lawyer. Personal injury attorneys can help accident victims get the compensation they need to pay hospital bills, make up for missed wages, and start moving on with their lives.