What Causes Auto Accidents?
You or someone you love has been hurt in an auto accident. You are entitled to compensation for your losses. However, before you file an claim, it's crucial to know the reasons why these accidents occur and what you can do to prevent them in the future.
Car crashes are caused by a mix of factors. These include drivers, cars, and environmental conditions.
1. Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is illegal in all states, and it can cause accidents in the car that cause injuries or even death. It's also dangerous for other passengers and drivers in the car, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists on the roads.
Your ability to drive and your reaction time can be affected by the presence of alcohol in your bloodstream, especially when you consume a large amount of alcohol in a short period of period of. Your decision-making and coordination abilities are impaired, so you can't respond quickly enough to traffic conditions or other vehicles on the road.
Drinking can also trigger memory lapses (also known as blackouts). This is due to the fact that the brain doesn't transfer information from short-term memory to long-term memory, which means you might forget important details when something happens when you're drunk.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one-third of all traffic fatalities are caused by drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) greater than the legal limit of 0.08 percent. While the majority of those who die in alcohol-related crashes are adults, children may be seriously injured, or even killed if drivers are impaired.
Due to their tendency to drink excessively and drink, younger drivers are more susceptible of being guilty of DUI than those who are older. This means drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time and may be more prevalent in college students and younger professionals who are used to gatherings at which they can easily drink alcohol.
You can bring a personal injury suit to seek compensation for the injuries suffered in an accident caused by a drunk driver. An experienced lawyer near me for car accident can assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve. You will need to prove that you were negligent and that the drunk driver was accountable for your losses. Then, you'll have to present proof of the drunk driver's intoxication, including an eyewitness report, a police report testimony and reconstruction of the accident.
2. Speeding
Speeding is one of most frequent driver behaviors that can lead to auto accidents. It is also a risky activity that could result in thousands of preventable deaths each year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) almost a third of all fatal auto crashes involve speeding. Speeding can make it difficult to control your vehicle at higher speeds, making you more susceptible to being involved in an accident.
Speeds that are too fast for the conditions can cause other driver errors to be magnified, such as driving too fast or when tired. This is the reason why speeding is more prevalent in rural areas where the traffic conditions are less conducive to safe driving than in urban areas.
If you're charged with speeding, it is possible to convince an officer that you drove in a safe manner in the present conditions. Some states, like Texas have a system called "presumed Speed Limit Violations" which allows the court to determine whether your speed was reasonable under the circumstances.
However even in these situations, a judge will need to consider whether you were traveling faster than other drivers on the particular road. You may also be able to prove that you were in a situation of emergency or unable to slow down due to weather or traffic conditions, which can allow you to get a lower ticket.
Speeding isn't something that everyone should do all the time however, it can happen. Young drivers are at greater risk than older drivers as they are more likely to be arrested for speeding. Fortunately, many states have a variety of tools that can assist in catching these drivers who are in the act.
3. Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a set of activities that divert a driver's attention from the driving. These distractions could be cognitive, visual, or manual. Examples include talking on a cell phone, texting, reading, eating and tuning the radio using the navigation system, or dealing with passengers.
These distractions can cause drivers to lose focus on the road and could be dangerous. They can also make it difficult for drivers to react quickly to avoid an accident, or to detect a problem before they happen.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that distracted driving is the root cause of a multitude of car crashes and deaths each year. In reality, tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year if drivers put aside any activities that take their attention off the road.
Despite the fact that lots of people continue to use cell phones and other electronic devices while driving despite laws in states that prohibit them yet, they are used by a lot of. Researchers from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that distracted drivers had a higher likelihood of being involved in an accident if they stared at their phones for more than two seconds.
While using cell phones can be the primary source of distraction however, other activities like drinking coffee, talking to passengers, eating and looking out the window, and looking after a child in the back seat can lead to auto accidents as well. Teen drivers are at the highest risk of becoming distracted behind the steering wheel.
4. Failure to Yield
If a driver does not yield the right of way, they can cause an auto accident which causes serious injury or even death. Injured parties in an accident like this could sue to recover their losses and costs.
In New York, the law stipulates that drivers have to yield the right of way to other vehicles approaching an intersection or stop sign. Drivers must also yield to pedestrians crossing streets that are not marked with a crosswalk.
Failure to yield could lead to a collision between two vehicles or an accident with pedestrians. Pedestrians are often hurt in these accidents because they don't have the same protections that vehicles do.
Based on the speed and the vehicle's weight In the event of a collision, failure to yield can result in severe physical injuries. These could include broken bones or spinal cord injuries lacerations, and other serious injuries.
The National Safety Council estimates that the failure to yield to accidents account for 15% of all fatal traffic accidents. This is a substantial percentage that must be considered when evaluating safety for driving.
Drivers who fail yield to traffic signals may be accused of a traffic violation. This could lead to the suspension of their license, insurance and employment. An attorney for car accident near me can help to understand your legal options if you're ticketed due to your failure to yield.
The failure to yield car crash attorney near me - Marvelvsdc writes, accident lawyers at Lowney Law, LLC can investigate the circumstances of your accident and submit a claim for compensation on your behalf. We will review the facts and evidence to determine who was responsible in the accident, and we will make a strong case on your behalf.
5. Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions, also referred to by the T-bone and broadside crash are the most risky type of auto accident. These accidents happen when a vehicle collides with another vehicle from the side. They can cause serious injuries, and even death.
These accidents can be caused by numerous reasons, including distracted driving and the failure to yield. Traffic signals that are not functioning properly and poor weather that impairs visibility or increases stopping distances can cause these kinds of collisions.
Despite the fact that seatbelts and other safety restraints have become increasingly advanced, they may not provide enough protection in side-impact crashes. These kinds of accidents leave more potential for death and injury than rear-end collisions or head-on collisions.
Side-impact collisions with cars can cause injuries like fractured bones, cuts and bruises. Chest injuries can also be common like rib fractures, and internal bleeding.
Unfortunately, some victims of side-impact collisions fall into the trap of waiting too long to be evaluated or fail to seek medical treatment at all. This can lead to chronic symptoms, like concussions or brain injuries that are traumatic.
In addition it is crucial to recognize that these crashes are especially harmful to children and elderly people. They can cause an aortic injury and other complications, which may even cause deaths. In these situations it is imperative to seek legal advice from a skilled auto accident attorney near me car accident as soon as you can after the collision has occurred to safeguard your rights and ensure you get the amount you deserve for your damages.