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The Road to Disaster: The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents happen every day and for every conceivable reason; but there are certain driving behaviors that result in common causes of car accidents? What forms the underlying reasons that accidents occur? It may be that you or someone close to you was injured in a car accident, or perhaps a member of your family died because of someone else’s incautious or negligent driving.

Any person who has suffered injuries or the survivors of a person killed in a car wreck that was caused by someone else is entitled to make a claim for compensation against the person who caused it to recover money for their economic and non-economic losses. For success in a serious injury or wrongful death case, you’ll want to find an experienced personal injury attorney, like those at the law firm of Wettermark Keith. We know the questions to ask, and we have the resources and experts working with us to determine what was going on in the moments before the accident. Below are some of the most common behaviors that cause car accidents:

What is the most common cause of car accidents?

Driver Distraction

We are always on the go, and many Americans spend hours every day driving. It is not surprising that drivers often use the driving time for other activities: grooming, eating, listening to music, disciplining the kids, talking on the phone, or perhaps worst of all, sending or reading text messages. These activities take the driver’s attention away from the road and dramatically increase the likelihood of a crash. Distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents in the United States today.

A driver using a phone or other hand-held electronic device quadruples the chance of a wreck. Texting makes it 23 times more likely that a crash will occur.

These are some of the possible consequences when a driver fails to focus on the road:

  • Drifting out of the correct lane into the path of an oncoming car
  • Sideswiping a car traveling in the next lane in the same direction
  • Failing to observe a red light or stop sign
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Failing to notice a motorcycle when turning or changing lanes
  • Failing to see a pedestrian or bicycle rider
  • Turning the wrong way onto a one-way street or highway access ramp
  • Hitting another car in the rear when traffic slows and the distracted driver fails to slow down

Reckless or Aggressive Driving at High Speeds

Speeding is a factor in one out of every three traffic accidents in the United States. The greater the speed at which a car is moving, the harder it is to control, and the longer it takes to stop. Aggressive driving and speeding go hand in hand. Weaving, cutting drivers off, and ignoring traffic rules at a high speed is a recipe for disaster and the cause of many injuries and fatalities.

Drunk Driver

Drunk driving accidents are all too common.  Even though a conviction on drunk driving carries increasingly heavy penalties, the law does not deter people.  Drunk driving cases are both criminal and civil cases. Accident victims are often dealing with serious, permanent injuries and in many cases, the accidents are fatal.  Cases like these require an experienced law firm that has the resources and knowledge to protect the rights of their clients in both civil and criminal cases in a timely, efficient and aggressive fashion.  The attorneys at the Law Office of Wettermark & Keith, are known for their ethical, determined and skillful representation of clients injured in serious accidents caused by negligence or drunk driving.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person in a drunk driving accident, contact our top auto accident lawyers today.  Together we can seek a financial compensation figure that meets your needs as a victim and can continue to provide for you, long after this ordeal is over. If you wish to speak to us directly, call the location nearest you.

Equipment Failure

The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that in roughly one out of every five U.S. car accident, mechanical failure is to blame. In many cases, a manufacturing defect is a cause. In 2012, U.S. car manufacturers recalled almost as many cars as they sold. When a defective part is discovered and the car is recalled, it is usually after a number of accidents have resulted in injuries and fatalities. You don’t have to prove negligence if a defect in manufacturing was the cause of your accident. Manufacturers are held strictly liable for damages resulting from defective products.

 

What some other causes for car accidents? 

FATIGUED DRIVING

Accidents caused by drivers who are too sleepy to safely operate a vehicle are especially common on lengthy travels or at night. A sleepy driver is less able to respond quickly and make sound decisions, which may have serious consequences for road safety. When you're tired on the road, you can have trouble staying alert, wander in and out of lanes, and miss exits or turns. Get plenty of rest the night before hitting the road, split the driving with a passenger if feasible, and stop every two hours.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Increasing visibility and navigational difficulties in wet, snowy, or foggy conditions may put everyone on the road in danger. Drivers need to slow down and be extra cautious in wet weather due to reduced visibility and more slippery roads. It might include doing things like driving with your low beams on, keeping a safe distance behind the car in front of you, and making no jerky maneuvers.

POOR ROAD CONDITIONS

A motorist may lose control of their car due to hazardous road conditions such as potholes, debris, or construction. Drivers need to keep their eyes out for possible risks and pay attention to road signs that warn them about them. Drivers should be ready to brake suddenly or swerve around a pothole or other road hazards.

ILLEGAL MANEUVERS

Running a red light or stop sign, for example, might increase the likelihood of a collision by disturbing the flow of traffic. Avoiding situations that call for such movements requires drivers to be cautious, patient, and respectful to others on the road.

ANIMAL CROSSINGS

Animal crossings are especially hazardous for drivers in rural settings. To avoid collisions at animal crossings, drivers should constantly be alert for animals on or near the road. To avoid crashing into any animals crossing the road before you, slow down and be prepared to stop. Attempting to steer around an animal that has already crossed the highway might cause you to lose control of your vehicle or swerve into oncoming traffic.

 

Experienced Advocacy Makes All the Difference

When you need a highly qualified and experienced personal injury attorney following a car accident, you’ll find the help you need at the law firm of Wettermark Keith. We have years of experience helping accident victims obtain fair compensation for car accident injuries, and a 95 percent rate of success.

We offer a complimentary legal consultation in which we’ll provide honest answers to your accident-related questions and advise you on the steps we’ll take on your behalf. We take cases on contingency, so there is no risk to you. We do all the work and cover all the expenses of putting together your case; you only pay us when your case is resolved, and only if we’ve obtained money for you. Call us today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Distracted driving is one of the most frequent causes of car accidents, often leading to severe consequences. It ranks alongside other major causes such as drunk driving and speeding. The severity of accidents caused by distracted driving can vary significantly, from minor fender benders to fatal crashes, largely depending on factors like speed and the driver’s level of distraction at the time of the accident.

Immediately after a car accident, ensure the safety of all parties involved and move to a safe location if possible. Call emergency services for medical and police assistance. Document the scene by taking photos and gathering information from other parties involved and witnesses. Seek medical attention, even if injuries are not immediately apparent. Finally, report the accident to your insurance company and consider consulting a personal injury attorney to understand your legal options.

An attorney determines fault in a car accident by examining evidence such as police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction analysis. Key factors include determining each driver's actions leading up to the accident, road conditions, and adherence to traffic laws. The most critical evidence typically includes photographs of the scene, eyewitness accounts, and any physical evidence from the accident site.

Common injuries from car accidents include whiplash, concussions, broken bones, internal injuries, and psychological trauma. The impact on one's life can be significant, ranging from short-term discomfort and inconvenience to long-term medical issues, chronic pain, or disability. Psychological impacts, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can also be profound.

Compensation in car accident cases is calculated based on factors like medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. The severity of injuries, the impact on the victim’s quality of life, the duration of recovery, and the extent of property damage are key determinants. In some cases, punitive damages may also be awarded, particularly in cases of gross negligence.

 

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HERE'S WHAT TO DO NEXT

If you or a loved one have been injured and think you might have a case, call us now for a free consultation.