Personal Injury Blog

Top 5 Causes of Auto AccidentsThe first reported fatality from a motor vehicle accident occurred in London in the year 1896.  It caused quite a stir at the time, leading the coroner to state, "This must never happen again."  The problem is, it does happen repeatedly and more than 25 million people have lost their lives due to auto accidents.   Because so many people die or become injured on the highways each day, the cause of driving accidents has to be studied in depth.  Hopefully, knowing why these accidents occur will lead to preventative action.

Here are the top five conditions leading to the cause of driving accidents:

1. Driver Distraction
- This is by far the most common cause of driving accidents, and everyone is guilty of this infraction during their driving careers.  It isn't difficult to be distracted if you aren't concentrating on the most important task you are dealing with at the time. A very common distraction and the cause of many accidents is the use of a cell phone while driving.

If you've ever done any of the following while driving, you are guilty of driver distraction:
    •    Read a map
    •    Texted or read a text
    •    Argued with passengers in the car
    •    Put on makeup
    •    Operated the radio or CD player
    •    Slowed down to observe something along your route
    •    Attempted to eat while driving

Traffic officers report that they have had as many as three accidents at a single site location due to drivers "rubbernecking" at the scene of the initial accident.

2. Speeding - Believe it or not, some of those speed limit signs were put there for a good reason.  A big cause of driving accidents stems from a driver traveling at an excessive speed that is dangerous for the road design and conditions.  The faster a car travels the less control the driver has of the vehicle, even more so in the event of a tire blow out or other unforeseen event.

3. Fatigue - A cause of driving accidents that often occurs when a person pushes themselves too far is falling asleep at the wheel.  Many truck drivers have this problem as they make long transport runs over the interstates.

4. Intoxication - This cause of driving accidents happens on a regular basis, and it usually happens because someone does not prevent an impaired person from driving. Remember the saying, "Friends don't let friends drive drunk."

5. Weather - More forgivable than any other cause of driving accidents is the weather.  Ice and snow can make driving impossible for the person caught in these conditions, and other contributors also include rain, sleet, and fog.

One way not to become a statistic as a cause of driving accidents is to take your driving very seriously.  Other drivers may still involve you in their mistakes, but your chances are much better when you understand the importance of driving and take proper precautionary measures to prevent accidents.

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