In 2017, there were 3,602 traffic fatalities in California. There were thousands of other accidents that resulted in injuries and vehicle damage. Sadly, many of those accidents could have been prevented. There are many reasons for car accidents, but the common thread is neglect. More often than not, a neglectful driver is the reason for an accident. Learn about the most common causes of road accidents and how you can prevent them.
1. Distracted Driving
If you spend any time in the car, you won’t be surprised to learn that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents. Drivers look at their cell phones, talk to passengers, and eat lunch while driving. Instead of watching the road, they place their attention elsewhere. This can cause a serious accident.
While you’re driving, you should keep your attention focused on the road at all times. Anything can happen, and you need to be prepared.
2. Speeding
These days, people are in a rush to get everywhere. As a result, there are many speeding drivers on the road. Sadly, accidents at high speeds tend to be the most dangerous.
When drivers are going too fast, they can’t react to other vehicles or changes in the road. They also have limited control of their vehicles. One small error could cause a serious accident. Any time you’re traveling over the posted speed limit, you risk causing a speeding accident.
3. Reckless Driving
Some drivers fail to make the safety of others a priority. Instead, they drive recklessly. They might tailgate other vehicles, change lanes without signaling, and pass on the right. By driving recklessly, these individuals put others at risk.
A reckless driver could cause a rear-end accident by tailgating someone and being unable to stop. However, they can cause many other types of accidents. They could cause a sideswipe accident if they fail to look before changing lanes. They could also cause a T-bone accident by failing to yield at an intersection.
4. Drunk Driving
Another common but dangerous behavior is drunk driving. On holidays and weekends, it’s a common cause of accidents. While drunk, a driver has a decreased ability to focus and an impaired response time. Therefore, they can quickly find themselves causing an accident.
This is also one of the easiest causes of accidents to prevent. By abstaining from drunk driving, you can cut down on the number of accidents.
5. Inclement Weather
Bad weather has been the cause of many accidents. However, there is usually another cause for an accident to occur in inclement weather. Typically, the accident is a result of a combination of factors. A speeding vehicle could slip on a wet road, which could cause an accident. The inclement weather and the reckless behavior of the driver would be to blame. At other times, poor signage and bad weather are to blame.
If you’re driving in bad weather, you should be more cautious than usual. This means driving under the speed limit and having more focus on the road.
If you were the victim of an accident, there’s a good chance that someone’s negligence caused your accident. Because of this, you may be eligible for compensation. You could receive money to cover the expenses of your car repairs, injuries, and pain and suffering. Contact Timothy J. Ryan and you can learn more about your options for seeking compensation.
