There are above 100’000 car accident injuries in New York at any year. From these, 1000 are serious and can cause major bodily harm. Car accidents are messy by default. They’re an experience that most people do not have prior knowledge of until they’ve directly experienced it and, more times than not, are in a state of shock shock, injury and economic liability at that time. This can heavily impact their ability to cautiously and reasonably settle a defense of their actions.

Navigating the ladder to settle a case for one’s optimal benefit requires a reputable understanding and collaboration with auto insurers, national and state-specific traffic laws and the technical ability to defend and staunch the issue one is presented with. The best way for a victim to avoid any of this is to know the common most instances when car accidents occur, and making sure to stymie any impulse that would follow the same instance of risk.

Common causes of car accidents can be divided into two parts – negligence of traffic and safety laws by the driver and weaknesses of traffic infrastructure. The latter of which can be more easily defended, but all require an understanding of traffic laws and insurance regulations.

Negligence of traffic and safety laws

It is the responsibility of the driver to account for their own ability to follow traffic laws to their utmost ability and ensure the safety of themselves and others. Car accidents where the driver has been to some extent responsible for the accident are as follows:

Aggressive driving

Aggressive driving occurs when the driver is intentionally committing driving offenses that endanger the life and safety of themselves, other drivers and pedestrians.

Drunk driving

Drunk driving or DUI’s are accidents occurring if the driver is operating under the impairment of 0.08% or more of blood alcohol level (BAL) in their system.

Reckless driving

Reckless driving, similarly to aggressive driving occurs when the driver endangers the safety and life of others by crossing traffic laws due to speeding or other offenses that needlessly create a more dangerous driving environment.

T-bone collisions

T-bone collisions are instances when the driver runs a stoplight, doesn’t correctly stop at stop signs or misjudges a turn into oncoming traffic. 

Texting and driving

Texting and driving occurs when the driver has willingly decided to not pay attention or divides their attention to devices or sending messages instead of focusing on operating their vehicle.

Weakness of traffic infrastructure

Either through the fault of infrastructure or the dangers of other drivers presenting a risk to yourself, there are instances where car accidents occur due to the external environment or effects that are not consciously imposed by the driver. These include:

Distracted driving accidents

These are visual, audial, manual or cognitive distractions that inhibit the driver to focus on the road. This includes driving in heavily unlit or poorly maintained roads, heavy fog or even sudden issues with the driver’s capacity to cognitively focus.

Head on collisions

While this type of accident can be the fault of the initial driver, it is often the case that due to other’s negligence of traffic laws, two vehicles suffer from a collision while driving in opposite directions on a single lane.

Highway car accidents

Due to high and unprepared traffic congestion, increased volumes of traffic can inhibit the infrastructure of a highway to a degree where the risk of car crashes and other accidents can become inevitable.

It is, of course, impossible to predict and stay away from all of these risks. They can happen to anyone and usually occur when the driver does not expect them or misjudges the severity of their own actions.

To confront egregious bills, insurance payments and the emotional turmoil preceding the traumatic event, having your case be processed and defended by independent accident lawyers is a smart and generally necessary investment to save you from mental distress and heightened payments. Contact Long Island car accident lawyer Harrison for more information.