According to government statistics, there are millions of car accidents every year in America. These accidents range from minor fender benders to serious crashes that end in fatalities. Car accidents may be a single vehicle or multiple vehicles depending on the circumstances. The cause of an accident can vary depending on the many different factors.
According to multiple sources, there are many causes of car accidents and from our research, for this post, we came up with a list of the top ten causes for car accidents.
Top 10 Common causes for car accidents
#1 Drivers being distracted
Distracted driving recently surpassed DUI as the number one cause of car accidents in the United States. At highway speed a vehicle can travel the length of a football field in the time that it takes to check a text message on your phone. With the explosion of cell phone use all across the country, it is no wonder why there are so many people being distracted. Cell phones are not the only type of distractions that have been identified as causing accidents. Anything that takes your attention or your eyes off the road can easily lead to an accident. People who have been injured in a car accident should contact personal injury lawyers Perth for legal assistance with their claim.
#2 Driving under the influence
Drunk drivers are responsible for thousands and thousands of car accidents all over the country every year. Unfortunately, far too many people underestimate how alcohol impairs their ability to operate a car. Driving under the influence is not limited to alcohol, many people don’t realize that there are many types of prescription medications (including medical marijuana) that can cause a persons ability to drive to be impaired. Anything substance that effects a persons reflexes and slows down reaction time can easily lead to an car accident.
#3 Exceeding the posted speed limit
The posted speed limit on roadways and highways are set based on road design and conditions, going to fast has been determined to be a serious problem. Going too fast can also make it extremely difficult to slow down or stop to avoid a road hazard or slow traffic. When you are going excessively fast the closing speed of your car to other cars on the road may be very difficult to judge. The best way to avoid an accident is to stay at or under the posted speed.
#4 Driving Recklessly
It takes a whole lot of concentration in order to safely operate a car and it you driving erratically you are far more likely to cause an accident. Driving well over the speed limit and rapid lane changes are examples of driving reckless. It shows a serious disregard for the safety of other drivers on the roadway. It also makes it far more likely that you will not make proper judgement when presented with a dangerous road condition. Road rage is another circumstance that can lead to reckless driving and can easily have deadly consequences.
#5 Rain or poor road conditions
Wet roads have been sighted as a cause in a lot of car accidents. One of the main reasons for this is that oils that build upon the road surface daily become extremely slick when rain starts falling. The ultra slick roads make it far more difficult to slow or stop a car in an emergency. Depending on how much rain is falling, ponding on the roadway can easily cause a car to hydroplane and the tires lose contact with the road surface. This also is the case with frozen precipitation (snow and ice) in the wintertime.
#6 Failure to obey traffic signals
Traffic signals and stop signs are designed to help keep traffic flowing safely and controlled. Unfortunately, many car accidents occur when one or more vehicles fail to adhere to the traffic signal or stop sign. This can cause a car to collide with another car coming in a different direction. Distracted drivers often run through intersections or roll through stops signed because their eyes might have been taken off the roadway in front of them. Failing to obey traffic lights can be quite expensive depending on the jurisdiction when the problem happened.
#7 Night driving
Night driving adds an extra element of difficulty and requires a driver to be more vigilant. Oncoming headlights can cause temporary blindness under certain circumstances which can make it difficult to keep total control of the car. It would be wise to use the car’s high beam setting of the headlights to ensure that you can see. Night driving can also exacerbate a feeling of drowsiness and cause a driver to be distracted if they accidentally nod off and close their eyes, even for a split second. People who have suffered injury in an accident that happened at night time would be wise to contact motor vehicle accident lawyers Perth for claims assistance.
#8 Following too closely
It is never a good idea to drive too closely to the back bumper of the car in front of you, also referred to as tailgating. This is extremely dangerous in that if the car in front of you stops suddenly you will not likely be able to stop fast enough. Driving too close can also cause the driver in the other car to potentially react badly and cause a dangerous situation out of anger or frustration.
#9 Poorly maintained vehicle
An improperly maintained car can malfunction at any time and that can easily lead to an accident. If the brakes decide to fail and the car cannot stop quick enough, the result could be a catastrophic accident or minor fender bender. Non-functioning turn signals can also lead to serious accidents in the case of quick lane changes. Driving on the road with one or both headlights out can also cause an accident. Given the dangers on the road you should contact a wills Perth lawyer to ensure you have an up to date Last Will and Testament in place.
#10 Driving on the wrong side of the road
One of the leading causes of head-on car crashes on the highway is a driver going the wrong way. There generally is no time to avoid the wreck if a car is coming at you at such a high rate of speed. That is why it is very important to pay close attention to streets and highway road signs that are posted at all entry points.
