Common Causes of Car Accidents

 Posted on January 04, 2018 in Car Accidents

Getting into a car accident can have devastating consequences for those in the vehicles affected. Astoundingly, almost 1.3 million people die each year in car accidents and an additional 20-50 million are injured or disabled. Whenever a person gets into a vehicle, they are taking a risk. Drivers can lessen the risk that they will get into an accident by never driving after consuming drugs or alcohol, avoiding distractions like cell phones, and keeping a lookout for careless drivers. There are many things that can trigger a car accident, but you may be surprised as to the main causes of such accidents.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has become a more serious problem every year. Having the world at our fingertips on a cell phone has made it more tempting than ever to take your eyes off of the road. The National Safety Council reports that 1.6 million crashes each year are caused by distracted drivers. In fact, distracted driving is so dangerous that 1 out of 4 of all car accidents are caused by it.

Drunk Driving

If a person has over a 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC) and they get into a car, they are drunk driving. If caught, they could face DUI charges and even jail time. Drunk driving is responsible for about a third of all car accidents. The Center for Disease Control estimates that someone in the U.S dies in a motor vehicle accident involving an alcohol-impaired driver every 51 minutes.

Ignoring Traffic Laws or Signs

Almost everyone who has driven a car has driven faster than the speed limit at some point. It can be very tempting to drive faster than you know you should, run red lights, or stop incompletely for stop signs when you are in a hurry. However, these actions can make you liable for any accidents caused by the negligence. Improper lane changes, failure to signal, tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, speeding and being overly aggressive on the roads causes thousands of accidents each year. Some of these accidents are minor, but others can result in serious injury or death.

Skilled Legal Aid

It is vitally important to remember that motor vehicles are incredibly powerful machines that should be handled with caution. If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence while driving, you need an attorney who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact an experienced San Jose car accident attorney at 408-293-7777 for a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/laiza-king-/top-15-causes-of-car-accidents_b_11722196.html