What Causes Auto Accidents?
If you or someone you love was injured in an auto accident, you are entitled to be compensated for the damages. However, prior to filing an action, it's essential to know the reasons why these accidents happen and what can be done to prevent them in the future.
Car crashes result from a variety of factors. These include drivers, vehicles, and environmental conditions.
1. Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence is illegal in all 50 states. It can result in serious injuries or even death in an auto accident. It's also dangerous for other passengers and drivers in the vehicle, as well as cyclists and pedestrians who are on the roads.
The amount of alcohol in your bloodstream can have an enormous impact on your driving capabilities and reaction time, particularly in the event that you consume a lot of alcohol in a short time. Your coordination and decision-making abilities are impaired, and you're unable to react quickly to road conditions or other vehicles on the road.
In addition, drinking can cause memory loss, often referred to as blackouts. This means that your brain isn't able to transfer information from short-term memories to longer-term ones, and you may lose important information in the event that something happens during the time 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) over the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The majority of those who die in accidents caused by alcohol are adults, however children can also sustain serious injuries or even die when a driver is under the influence.
Because they are more likely to drink excessively, younger drivers are more susceptible of being guilty of DUI than older adults. This is when you consume excessively within a short period of time. It is more frequent in college students and young professionals who attend social gatherings where they can drink alcoholic beverages.
If you or someone close to you is injured in an accident caused by drunk driver, you may claim compensation for your injuries through filing an injury claim. An experienced lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you require. You'll be required to prove negligence and that the drunk driver was accountable for your losses. The next step is to provide evidence of intoxication by the drunk driver, including eyewitness testimony as well as reconstruction of the accident.
2. Speeding
Speeding is one of most frequent driver behaviors that can lead to auto accidents. It could also result in thousands of deaths every year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Nearly one-third of fatal auto accidents involve speeding. The issue with speeding is that it can be difficult to control your vehicle when you are at a higher speed which can make you more vulnerable to getting into a crash.
Additionally, speeds that are too high for the conditions may make other driver mistakes worse, such as driving too close or driving when tired. This is the reason why speeding is more frequent in rural areas where traffic conditions are not conducive to safe driving than in urban areas.
If you're accused of speeding, you may try to convince an officer that you drove in a safe manner given the conditions that day. Some states, like Texas, have a system called "presumed Speed Limit Violations" which allows the court to decide whether your speed was reasonable under the circumstances.
In these instances, a judge will be required to determine if your speed was higher than other drivers on that road. Additionally, your ability to prove that you were in an emergency situation or in a position where you were unable to slow down due to traffic or weather conditions could help you avoid the charge.
While speeding isn't something that everyone should do but it does happen. Young drivers are more at risk than older drivers since they are more likely be arrested for speeding. Luckily, many states have tools to help them catch these drivers who are in the act.
3. Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is when activities divert attention of drivers from the driving. These distractions could be either visual, cognitive, or manual. accidentinjurylawyers.claims include talking on a mobile phone or eating, texting, reading and tuning the radio using the navigation system, and conversing with passengers.
These distractions can be risky because they divert the driver's attention away from the road. They also increase the chance that the driver will not be quick enough to avoid an accident or even be aware of a potential problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that distracted driving is a major cause of a number of car accidents and deaths every year. In fact, tens or thousands of lives could be saved every year if drivers stopped engaging in any activity that takes their focus off the road.
Despite laws in the state that prohibit the use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving, many drivers continue to use them. In a study conducted by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety researchers, they discovered that drivers who glanced at their phones or distracted themselves for more than two minutes increased their risk of being involved in a crash.
While using a cell phone may be the primary source of distraction, other activities such as drinking coffee or talking to passengers eating and looking out the window, or checking on a child in the back seat can result in auto accidents too. Teen drivers are more likely to be distracted behind the wheel.
4. Failure to Yield
Drivers who fail to yield their right-of-way could cause serious injuries or death due to not yielding their right-of-way. Injured parties in an accident like this can sue to get their expenses and losses compensated.
In New York, the law states that drivers must give way to all vehicles coming towards an intersection or stop sign. Drivers must also yield to pedestrians crossing streets outside of a crosswalk.
Failure to yield could lead to a collision between two vehicles or an accident with a pedestrian. The pedestrians are frequently injured in these accidents as they do not have the same protections as vehicles.
Based on the speed and weight of the vehicle Failure to yield to collisions could result in serious physical injuries. These injuries may include broken bones, spinal injuries, lacerations, or other serious injuries.
According to the National Safety Council, 15 percent of fatal traffic crashes are caused by failure to yield. This is an impressive percentage and should be taken into consideration when evaluating the safety of driving.
Drivers who fail yield to traffic signals could be accused of a traffic violation. This can lead to being suspended from their license or insurance, as well as a loss of employment. An attorney can assist you understand your legal options if you're ticketed for not to yield.
Failure to yield is a cause of car accident lawyers from Lowney Law, LLC can investigate the causes of your accident and seek compensation on your behalf. We will review the facts and evidence to determine who was negligent in the accident, and then we will develop a strong case on your behalf.
5. Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions, also known as T-bone or broadside collisions, are some of the most dangerous types of auto accidents. They happen when one vehicle collides with another from the side, leading to grave injuries and, often, death.
These crashes can happen due to numerous reasons, including distracted driving and failure to yield. These kinds of accidents can result from malfunctioning traffic signals or bad weather conditions that hinder vision or increases the stopping distance.
Despite the fact that seatbelts and other safety restraints have become increasingly advanced, they may not offer enough protection in side-impact collisions. Additionally, the amount of space between the occupant and other vehicles in these kinds of accidents is not as much as with rear-end or head-on collisions leaving plenty of room for death and injury to occur.
The types of injuries that can be sustained in side-impact accidents in cars include fractured bones, cuts, bruises, as well as injuries to the back and neck. Common chest injuries may include rib fractures or internal bleeding.
Side-impact collision victims often delay getting checked or don't seek medical attention. This can result in long-term effects such as brain injuries and concussions.
Additionally it is vital to be aware that these accidents are particularly dangerous for children and elderly people. These crashes can cause aortic damage, and other serious complications that could result in death. In these cases it is vital to seek legal advice from a seasoned auto accident attorney as soon as you can after the collision is over to protect your rights and ensure you get the amount you deserve for your damages.