Common Causes of Car Accidents
Every year there are over 5 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States. These accidents result in over 2.2 million injuries and over 32,000 deaths. The biggest problem is nearly every single one of those accidents could be avoided. If you have been the victim of a car accident, you likely need an attorney to help you get adequate compensation. Schedule your free consultation with a car accident attorney in Southern California at Arentz Law Group P.C. today by calling 1-800-305-6000, or by filling out the contact form on this page.
Causes of Car Accidents
There is a wide variety of causes of car accidents. However, there are some that occur much more often than others. By eliminating these causes, thousands of lives could be saved each year.
Distracted Driving – The number one cause of auto accidents is distracted driving. Part of the reason is that this is a very wide category and incorporates more than just one distraction. Texting, an issue that has come up a lot lately, is a huge factor, but also rubbernecking, looking at scenery, adjusting the radio, and other passengers all play a part in distracting the driver. All in all, these distractions make up about 42% of all accidents.
Drunk Driving – Driving while impaired, that includes under the influences of both drugs and alcohol, is a huge factor in car accidents. Despite the statistics, and despite the warnings, thousands of people choose to drive when they are not sober. The result is that over 10,000 people are killed every year by drunk or impaired drivers. Drunk driving accidents represent around 31% of all fatal car accidents.
Fatigue – Driving while tired is nearly as bad as driving while drunk. Hundreds of thousands of car accidents every year are because the driver falls asleep, nods off, or otherwise is too tired to drive. The driver doesn’t even have to be asleep for fatigue to be a factor. While you are tired your reaction time is greatly reduced, and you can see things that aren’t actually present. Fatigued driving accounts for about 12% of all accidents.
Speeding and Aggression – Driving fast is a sure way to get in an accident. Other motorists are expecting people to be going the speed limit and they may pull out in front of you. If you are driving excessively fast, you may not be able to stop in time. Aggressive driving can be just as bad. Road rage causes irrational decision making and poor choices.
Weather – It is easy to blame slick roads on the weather, but ultimately the responsibility lies with the driver. If the roads are slick, then the driver needs to slow down. Weather related crashes, due to snow, ice, rain, hail, fog, or others, are actually one of the rarest causes of auto accidents.
Contact Arentz Law Regarding Your Auto Accident
If you have been the victim of a car accident, you may need to hire an attorney to ensure you are justly compensated. The highly trained car accident attorneys with Arentz Law can do just that. With unique access to experts, they can help you get a settlement that adequately compensates you for your loss. To schedule your free case review with a car accident attorney in Southern California simply call 1-800-305-6000, or fill out the contact form on this page.