Most Common Car Accident Causes

Car accidents are an unfortunate reality that every driver has to be aware of. These incidents occur hundreds of thousands of times a year across the country and are a leading cause of injury for many Americans. While vehicle safety has improved greatly over the years, car accidents are sadly still common. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that in 2018, there were 2.71 million car accident victims that experienced injuries severe enough to require a visit with a medical professional.

One of the best ways to avoid car accidents is to be informed about the most common causes of car accidents. By being aware of these common car accident causes, you can pay extra attention and keep an eye out for these situations playing out on the road as you’re driving. The good news is many car accidents can be avoided, so check out this list of the most common car accident causes to look out for to protect you and your loved ones on the road.

Distracted Driving

By far the most common cause of car accidents is distracted driving. This can take many different forms, such as eating, reading, grooming, and applying makeup. The form of distracted driving that you will almost certainly see most frequently while driving is cell phone usage. If you see another driver engaging in any of these distracted driving activities, try to steer clear of their vehicle to avoid potentially getting hit by a driver who isn’t paying attention. Safely change lanes or change your route to avoid these types of drivers.

Intoxicated Driving

This one should unfortunately not come as a surprise. If you see a driver on the road who is swerving their car or driving at dangerously high speeds, there’s a chance that the driver may be intoxicated with drugs or alcohol. These types of drivers are more common at night, as people may be driving home from bars and other activities where alcohol was present. As with distracted drivers, the best way to keep yourself safe in this scenario is to keep your distance and alter your route to avoid coming into contact with a drunk driver.

Speeding

We’ve all experienced a time where we saw a car going way too fast, sometimes even 15 or 20 miles per hour above the posted speed limit. This is especially dangerous as accidents that happen at high speeds tend to result in more severe injuries. Not only that, but the fast you drive, the slower your reaction time is. If you need to swerve out of the way, but you’re going 20 miles per hour above the speed limit, there’s a very small chance you’ll have enough time to react. If you see another driver speeding far too fast, the best thing to do is get out of their way to prevent getting in an accident with them.

Bad Weather

The next most common cause of car accidents isn’t directly caused by human error. When it rains, several factors are occurring that make it harder to drive. First, the road itself becomes slicker and harder to control your vehicle on. It’s much easier for your tires to slip on a wet driving surface. Next, your visibility will decrease when the rain itself is coming down. This is why it’s important to turn on your headlights in the rain and other low visibility situations to help prevent an accident from happening. For more tips on driving in the rain, check out our blog on the subject here.

Running Red Lights & Stop Signs

The final most common cause of car accidents is a driver running a red light or stop sign. Running a traffic light or stop sign is extremely dangerous, as the other drivers who have a green light are typically not expecting any cars to be coming through a lane that is supposed to be stopped by a red light. This leads to a lot of blindside accidents in intersections or at areas with stop signs. The best way to prevent getting in one of these accidents is to always drive alert and defensively. Even when you have a green light, do a quick check to all other sides of the intersection to ensure nobody looks like they’re about to run a light or stop sign.

Driving can be an incredibly powerful tool to get you from Point A to Point B. However, all drivers should be aware of the possibility of an accident occurring while out on the road. Even the most cautious drivers may still find themselves in an accident through no fault of their own. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a careless or reckless driver and has been injured, call 1-800-411-PAIN and get the help you need! We will refer you to the attorneys that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and the medical attention you need. If you have been hurt in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN, and we will guide you in finding you the best medical and legal professionals.