What Causes Auto Accidents?
If you or someone you care about has been injured in an automobile accident, you have a right to be compensated for the damages. However, prior to filing a claim, it's important to understand the reasons for why accidents happen and what you can do to prevent them from happening in the future.
Car crashes result from a variety of factors. These include vehicles, drivers and environmental conditions.
1. Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is a crime in all states, and can lead to accidents in the car that cause injuries or even death. It's also dangerous for the other passengers and drivers in the vehicle and bicyclists and pedestrians on the road.
Your ability to drive and your reaction time can be affected by the presence of alcohol in your bloodstream, particularly when you drink lots within a short time. Your decision-making and coordination skills are impaired, meaning you aren't able to react quickly enough to road conditions or other vehicles on the road.
Drinking can also trigger memory blurs (also known as blackouts). This means that your brain isn't able to transfer information from short-term memories to long-term ones, and so you could forget important details should something happen during the time you're drunk.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the majority of traffic fatalities occur in crashes caused by drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. The majority of those who die in crashes involving alcohol are adults, but children can also sustain serious injuries or even die when drivers are under the influence.
Younger drivers are at greater risk for committing an DUI than adults of a certain age because they are often more susceptible to binge drinking. This means drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in the course of a short time. It's also more common in college students and younger professionals who have a habit of attending social gatherings where they are able to easily consume alcohol.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident with a drunk driver, you can claim compensation for your injuries by filing an injury claim. A skilled lawyer can assist you in obtaining the compensation you need. You'll need to prove negligence as a whole and prove that the drunk driver was liable for your losses. You'll then need to present proof of the drunk driver's impairment, including a police report, eyewitness testimony, and accident reconstruction.
2. Speeding
Speeding is among the most common driver behaviors which can cause auto accidents. It could also result in thousands of deaths each year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Nearly a third of all fatal auto accidents involve speeding. The issue with speeding is that it can be difficult to control your vehicle when you are at the speed you are traveling at which can make you more likely to get into an accident.
Furthermore, speeds that are too fast for the conditions could increase the risk of other errors made by drivers, such as driving too close or driving when tired. This is the reason why speeding is more prevalent in rural areas where the traffic conditions are less conducive for safe driving than in urban areas.
You can convince a judge that your speeding ticket is justified if you prove that you were driving safely in the circumstances. Certain states, such as Texas have a system known as "presumed Speed Limit Violations" that allows the court to determine if your speed was reasonable given the circumstances.
However even in these cases, a judge has to determine if you were speeding up more than other motorists on that particular road. Additionally, your capacity to prove that you were in an emergency situation or in a position where you were unable to slow down because of weather or traffic conditions can also assist in avoiding the ticket.
Speeding isn't something everyone should do every day However, it happens. best auto accident attorney are at greater risk than older drivers because they are more likely to get arrested for speeding. Luckily, many states have a range of devices that can assist in catching those drivers who are caught in the act.
3. Distracted Driving
Distracted driving refers to activities that take a driver's attention away from the actual driving. These distractions could be visual, cognitive or manual. Examples include talking on a cell phone as well as texting, reading, eating and tuning the radio using the navigation system, and dealing with passengers.
These distractions can be dangerous because they divert the mind of a driver off the road. These distractions can make it difficult for drivers to react quickly in order to avoid an accident, or to identify a problem before it happens.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is responsible for thousands of deaths and car accidents every year. Drivers could save hundreds of thousands of lives every year by focusing less.
Despite the fact people still use cell phones and other electronic devices while driving, despite the laws of the state that ban them and their use, they are still being used by a lot of. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, researchers discovered that drivers who glanced at their phones or otherwise distracted themselves for more than two seconds increased their risk of being in a crash.
While using a cell phone may be the most prevalent source of distraction however other activities like drinking coffee, talking to passengers, eating, looking out the window, and checking on a child in the back seat can result in accidents in the car as well. Teen drivers are more likely to be distracted behind the wheel.
4. Failure to Yield
Drivers who do not yield the right-of-way to other drivers can cause serious injuries , or even death due to not yielding their right-of-way. People injured in an accident like this can sue to recuperate their losses and expenses.
In New York, the law stipulates that drivers have to give way to other vehicles approaching an intersection or stop sign. Drivers must also yield to pedestrians who are crossing streets outside of a crosswalk.
Failure to yield can result in collisions between two vehicles or an accident with pedestrians. People who walk on the sidewalk are often injured in these accidents as they don't have the same protections as vehicles.
Depending on the speed and weight of the vehicle the failure to stop collisions could result in serious physical injuries. These could include broken bones or spinal cord injuries lacerations, and other serious injuries.
The National Safety Council estimates that crashes that do not yield represent 15% of fatal traffic accidents. This is an impressive percentage to consider when evaluating safety for driving.
Drivers who fail yield to traffic signals may be accused of a traffic violation. This could result in an immediate suspension of their driver's license as well as insurance and employment. If you've been ticketed for failure to yield and you are unsure of your options, you should speak with an attorney who can assist you to learn about your legal options.
Lowney Law, LLC can help you file an appeal for compensation for the failure to yield car accident. We will examine the evidence and facts to determine who was at fault in the accident, and we will develop a strong case on your behalf.
5. Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions, also referred to as broadside or T-bone collisions, are some of the most hazardous types of auto accidents. They occur when one vehicle hits another from the side, leading to serious injuries and sometimes fatalities.
These accidents can be caused by many reasons, including distracted driving or a failure to yield. Poorly functioning traffic signals and bad weather that hinders visibility or increases the stopping distance could be the cause of these collisions.
Despite the fact that seatbelts and other safety restraints have become increasingly sophisticated, they may not be enough in side-impact collisions. Additionally the space between the occupant and other vehicles in these kinds of accidents is not as much as those involved in head-on collisions or rear-end crashes, leaving a wide opening for death or injury to occur.
Injuries that may occur in collisions with other vehicles can result in broken bones, cuts and bruising, and injuries to the neck and back. Chest injuries are also common such as rib fractures or internal bleeding.
Side-impact collision victims usually do not get checked or don't seek medical attention. This can cause long-term effects, like concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
In addition it is important to understand that these crashes are particularly dangerous for children and the elderly. These accidents can cause aortic injury, and other serious complications that can result in death. It is essential to seek legal advice from a skilled auto accident lawyer immediately following an accident to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled for your injuries.