Car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in the United States. A report shows there were 4.2 million car accidents in 2022. And of those accidents, 1.2 million resulted in injuries, and 21,903 resulted in fatalities.
While some car accidents are due to factors beyond our control, such as defective auto parts, many car accidents are caused by human errors. For example, the NHTSA reports that 94% of car accidents are caused by human error.
Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to help prevent car accidents. But unfortunately, even the most cautious drivers can’t always avoid car accidents.
Also, if you or someone you love gets involved in a car accident, you are often entitled to compensation. But you must be well-equipped to journey to the full extent of the law.
Hiring experienced car accident lawyers is the first step to take. These lawyers are conversant with the law, so their advice is necessary. For starters, they will help you understand your legal rights and options. They will also handle the majority of legal proceedings, ensuring you get a fair trial in court. Attorneys for car accidents also persuade insurance firms regarding releasing compensation when due.
In this article, you’ll learn about the top reasons for car accidents. You’ll also learn about ways to prevent them. Keep reading.
1. Inclement Weather
Likely, you have at least once driven in poor weather. For example, on your drive to work in the morning, you may face an unexpected downpour or a creepy fog.
These fog, snow, and precisely rain can cause severe car accidents. Most times, the snow and ice tend to make the roads very slippery. As a result, most drivers tend not to have control over their cars.
Here are some of the most typical accident types brought on by poor weather conditions:
- Sliding off the road
- Hitting a pedestrian or another vehicle
- Skidding
- Hydroplaning
- Falling into a ditch.
However, even if you can’t avoid driving in bad weather, you can drive safely. You can start by moving more slowly than you usually do to give yourself more time to react to sudden problems, such as hydroplaning.
You may need to pull over to the side of the road until the rain stops and your eyesight improves in case driving becomes hard due to heavy rain.
Also, you or any driver that lives in an area where snowfall is uncommon may need to be equipped to deal with snow and ice on the ground.
If that is your case, try to train yourself for such cases. But if the accident occurs, it is best to hire an attorney for car accidents to give legal advice on what to do.
2. Speeding
Speeding is one of the primary causes of collisions. So, it’s normal to have unrest while traveling, especially if you’re running late. Arriving late, however, does not have much worse results than going above the speed limit.
When driving too fast, you or any motorist can’t stop their automobile before hitting another item. Also, you can’t respond in time to avoid a collision.
Even if you drive within the speed limit, an accident may still occur if other vehicles travel too fast.
In a similar vein, you must adapt your speed to your mood. For example, always drive more slowly than you most often would if you are feeling tired, worried, or angry and have to operate a motor vehicle. Again, this is because your reaction time will be slower.
High-speed collisions result in accidents that are vastly more harmful to property and human health.
So, ensure to give yourself a cushion when planning your trip time in case of unforeseen delays caused by detours or heavy traffic.
3. Night Driving
Nearly half of fatal car accidents occur at night for various reasons, not only darkness. Also, drivers are often less attentive. Due to the reduced traffic, some drivers put their guard down. Some people get worn out after working long hours.
So, if you find yourself driving at night, reap the benefit of the reduced traffic and travel further away from other motorists who may not be operating their vehicles safely.
The reason is that between midnight and three in the morning, intoxicated drivers are most prone to cause accidents.
To ensure the best visibility, maintain your headlights by checking them. You can also change your bulbs if they are fading.
However, if you or any of your loved ones get it by car, hire a lawyer for automobile accidents. Ensure you get an expert so they will help you get the payout you deserve.
4. Drunk Driving
Numerous fatalities are often caused by drunk driving each year. And this makes drunk driving a well-known cause of auto accidents.
But remember that anyone who has consumed one or more drinks gets considered legally unable to operate a vehicle.
So, ensure you get a designated driver if you intend to drink or hire a taxi. However, some people are very foolish and go out drinking and drive themselves home. Then, they end up hurting someone.
You can hire a lawyer for car accidents if you get hurt by a drunk driver. Car accident lawyers can help you sue the driver and make the court charge them for DUI.
Once they get charged, they are to pay hefty fines to you. They can also lose their driver’s licenses. However, if you are behind the wheel and the accident was not entirely your fault, you can also hire a lawyer for car accidents.
The lawyer for car accidents can defend your case as an issue of comparative negligence. As a result, it reduces the amount of fine you’ll pay. But you’ll still lose your license for DUI. So ensure you don’t get behind the wheel even if you just had one drink.
How to Prevent Car Accidents?
While you do not influence what other drivers do, you have power over how you react to them when they are on the road. Below are some tips on how to prevent car accidents.
Maintain Your Lane
When changing lanes, ensure you stick to your route at all times. Also, ensure you utilize your turn signals. This is because if you go too far from your lane, you risk harming other vehicles and yourself.
Drive with Caution
Note that any passengers in your car rely on you to drive safely. Therefore, going with caution is a must, and you should always be on the lookout for any problems.
Observe Traffic Laws
Traffic regulations like stop signs, red lights, and speed limits are in place for a purpose. Therefore, you should abide by them at all times.
Know that you and people nearby may be in danger if you run a red light or drive too fast. So obey the laws.
Don’t Drink and Drive
No matter how you think you have a very high alcohol tolerance, don’t drive when you are drunk. You may say it’s only one drink, but don’t drive. Instead, get a taxi or Uber to take you home or wherever you go.
Bottom Line
Car accidents are a leading cause of death in the United States. The most common reasons are speeding, drunk driving, night driving, and bad weather.
To prevent car accidents, always obey the speed limit, never drink and drive, and stay in your lane.
However, contact car accident lawyers to discuss your legal options if you or someone you know gets involved in a car accident. Good luck.
