Huntsville Car Accident Lawyers

What are the most common causes of car accidents?

Drivers who get behind the wheel of a car have one job to do: pay attention and drive safely. Unfortunately, many drivers do not uphold their end of the duty of care that they owe other drivers to drive safely and courteously and obey the rules of the road. The NHTSA maintains that most car accidents are caused by driver error. Here we have a list of the factors that can lead to car accidents:

Speeding

The Alabama Department of Transportation reports that speeding was the cause of 8,455 traffic crashes of which 138 were fatal in 2017. Speeding, whether exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions can have deadly consequences.

Distracted driving

Anything that distracts the driver from the task of driving such as talking or typing on a cell phone, eating, grooming, reaching for something inside the vehicle, or looking at something outside the vehicle increases the chances that the driver could cause an accident. ALDOT reports that there were 40 certified fatalities associated with distracted driving in 2017. However, fatalities related to distracted driving are widely believed to be underreported.

Drunk driving/Drugged driving

There were 5,471 drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment who were involved in traffic accidents in Alabama in 2017. There were 198 people who died in 90 crashes with suspected alcohol or drug impairment. For impaired traffic crashes, the proportion of fatalities involving impairment (3.13%) is 6.9 times of that in crashes in general (0.45%)

Road work/ construction zone accidents

The ALDOT reports that there were 3,154 work zone traffic crashes in 2017. Of those crashes, 640 had injuries 25 of which were fatal. Most work zone accidents, said ALDOT, are rear-end collisions resulting from speeding or inattentive driving.

Teen drivers/novice drivers

Teen drivers and inexperienced drivers can be a hazard on the roads because they are often unaware of how unskilled they are and how easily their carelessness behind the wheel can lead to a car accident.

Driving at night

At night visibility is limited to about 500 feet with high-beams and about 250-feet with normal headlights, which shortens reaction time. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision can be compromised in the dark, while the glare of oncoming headlights can temporarily blind a driver according to the National Safety Council.

Defective automotive equipment

Exploding airbags, sticky accelerator pedals, blown-out tires, defective steering systems, and other auto defects can cause a crash or make a crash worse than it would have been. A defective products lawyer from Martin & Helms can hold the product manufacturer accountable for your injuries.

Poor weather conditions

Heavy fog, snow, wind, ice storms, heavy rain, and even dust or sandstorms are a few of the adverse weather conditions that Mother Nature can dole out that put drivers in danger. If you can avoid driving during extreme weather events, it is safer to stay indoors and let it pass before you venture out. Sometimes, a storm can blow in unexpectedly and catch you by surprise. Drive slowly and carefully until you can find a safe place to pull off the road and wait out the dangerous weather.

Defective roadways

Steep curves, deep potholes, insufficient asphalt, crumbling concrete, these are just a few of the things that can cause you to get into a car accident that have nothing to do with another car on the road.

Animals crossing the roadway

There is nothing you can do to prevent a deer or any other four-legged creature from jumping out of the shadows and into the path of your car. Try to maintain your composure and keep your vehicle in your lane even as you try to process the shock and surprise about what you just saw.