Causes of Car Accidents

Driving seems like an ordinary activity that we participate in every day— we drive to work, run errands, pick our kids up from school—but remember, accidents do happen. Approximately 1.3 million people are killed in fatal car accidents every year, and an additional 20 million people sustain an injury. These statistics are alarming and give reason to be especially careful anytime you’re operating your vehicle because the odds show that most of us will suffer from an accident. If you end up in a crash, you need to speak with a law firm dedicated to helping car accident victims. We can help you navigate your options and more than likely you are entitled to compensation.

Our team of car accident attorneys and legal professionals help car accident victims just like you navigate the complicated claims process to make it as seamless as possible. That way you can focus on the most important thing— your health. To help answer any questions you may have, we offer a free consultation: 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call us at 800-898-4877, or you may contact us now by CLICKING HERE to submit your case for review.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents may happen due to poor weather or defective auto design, but in many cases, the accidents occur due to a driver that wasn’t paying attention to the road or misjudged something that led to a collision. Some of the most common causes of driver-related car accidents include:

  • Distracted drivers. Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road. Many people attempt to multi-task by texting, looking for directions, or emailing while driving. These drivers might assume that sending one text is harmless, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Any time a driver takes their eyes off the road and diverts their attention to an action other than the task of driving, accidents can happen.
  • Those who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. With easy access to ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber, it might be surprising that some people still choose to drive after they’ve had too many drinks. Intoxicated drivers are a danger to everyone else on the road, as they are often unable to react in time to prevent an accident.
  • Inexperienced drivers. Just like anything, driving takes practice. Drivers who don’t have much experience might not be able to predict certain dangers on the road. For example, it takes time to learn the right stopping distance for your car, and this can change depending on the weather. Tailgating, driving while texting, and failing to adjust driving based on inclement weather conditions are all mistakes that can lead to a severe accident.
  • Drowsy drivers. Often, we associate driving fatigue with commercial truck drivers who might attempt to push through a long shift to deliver their cargo on time. Drowsy drivers are a danger to everyone on the road, as they have slower reaction times and might not notice if they are drifting into another lane with traffic in it.
  • Road rage is the exhibition of aggressive driving behaviors, as well as other behaviors, such as rude gestures, honking, brake-checking other drivers, getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver, deliberately preventing another driver from changing lanes, or even trying to run another vehicle off the road

Although you can only control your actions, if you’re a passenger in a car and notice the driver is not paying proper attention to the road, let them know that you can help send a text or read directions, so they don’t have to look at their phone. With this simple gesture, you could prevent a major accident. Also, never ride with someone who had too much to drink.

Signs of a Dangerous Driver

One of the best ways to avoid an accident is to understand how to recognize the signs of a dangerous driver. Some behaviors might be obvious, but others are harder to distinguish. Here are a few things to watch out for:

  • Drivers who tailgate – Tailgating is prevalent during rush hour when people are in a hurry to get to work or to get home. Even at relatively low speeds, tailgating is a dangerous behavior that can easily lead to a rear-end accident.
  • Ignoring the speed limit - People who drive noticeably above or below the speed limit are potentially dangerous drivers. This behavior indicates that they either are unaware of how fast they should drive or they choose to ignore the posted signs. When a driver is speeding, they have less time to react when traffic in front of them slows down or suddenly brakes, which could result in a severe accident.
  • Swerving in and out of lanes - Erratic movements are among the most significant signifiers to help identify tired or distracted drivers. Erratic movements include changing lanes abruptly without warning and failing to turn on a signal. This behavior can also include swerving in and out of the lane with no regard for the other vehicles nearby. These behaviors are especially dangerous because they are unpredictable and give little time for other drivers to react.

If you believe that a driver is acting erratically and poses a danger to other vehicles on the road, it’s best to pass the car as soon as possible. If you believe that passing the car might lead to an accident, you should exit the road when you can, and then call the highway safety patrol or the police to report the dangerous driver.

Contact a Law Firm

No one anticipates sustaining injuries in a car accident. Still, with the number of cars on the road every day, it’s no surprise that accidents are relatively common. If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, it’s important to understand your rights. At Trust Guss Injury Lawyers, our legal team is proud to advocate for accident victims and will dedicate our time to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Our nationally recognized car accident lawyers and legal team at Trust Guss Injury Lawyers have protected the rights of injured victims for more than 20 years. If you are suffering from an injury due to a car accident, call our office right now to schedule a free consultation! We take all our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, and you will not owe us anything unless we win your case. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In fact, we are available right now! Call us at 800-898-4877 or contact us by CLICKING HERE to submit your case for review. We are here and ready to help you work through the claims process, so you can focus on getting your life back on track.
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