No matter who you are, being in a car accident is often a stressful and emotionally taxing event. The aftermath of a car accident can quickly add to that stress, as you may have to deal with injuries, property damage, medical bills, and even lost wages. It can often feel like you’re dealing with more than you bargained for and more than you can handle on your own.
Most car accidents are easily avoidable and that is why there are some causes that are more common than others. We’ve compiled a list to show the top causes of car accidents. By knowing the causes of possible car accidents, it could help you avoid getting involved in a collision of your own.
- Distracted Driving
By far the number one cause of accidents comes down to distracted driving. A distracted driver does not have complete attention on the road and that could easily lead to collisions. Some examples of distracted driving are the driver paying attention to mobile devices, passengers, or even eating a meal while driving. When you get behind the wheel, your only job is to get safely to your destination. It’s important to not let yourself fall into the mindset that just because you have been driving for a long time doesn’t mean that you can multitask while driving.
- Speeding
We’ve all had drivers speed past us on the highway even if we are going over the speed limit ourselves. While it isn’t unusual for people to drive 10 to 20 miles over the posted speed limit, it doesn’t that mean that is a good idea. The faster you drive, the slower your reaction time is going to be. If you need to prevent a car accident driving 20 miles over the limit and the chances are very high that the accident will not be prevented.
- Drunk Driving
It’s no secret that anybody who gets behind the wheel after drinking is a danger not only to themselves and to others. When you drink, your cognitive functions are dulled, which means your decision-making capabilities and reaction times are compromised. Because of this, it means that if you need to react quickly to avoid an accident, you really couldn’t. It is why you should find a sober party to take you home if you decide to drink.
- Reckless Driving
This involves seeing people weaving in and out of traffic, even cutting other drivers off on the highway. These are examples of reckless driving that can cause accidents. It is why if you see someone driving around like this it is important to back off and give them space. These drivers pose a danger to everyone else on the highway because they are paying little attention to everyone else as a dart in and out of traffic.
We know that getting into a car accident is often a stressful time and that is why contacting a car accident lawyer like our friends at Greenspan & Greenspan P.C. is often a good idea.