Top 4 Causes Of Traffic Accidents

Traffic accidents are one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. While there are more than a dozen different reasons auto accidents happen, there are five highly prevalent causes of traffic accidents.

Distracted Driving

According to the American Automobile Association’s Traffic Safety Division, 20-50% of ALL crashes that happen because of distracted driving. Over the past 5 years distracted driving in terms of texting has reached an all-time high, even though most states have laws against doing so. Distracted driving also includes:

– Driver Fatigue
– Not paying attention to the road
– Talking on the cell phone
– Rubbernecking
– Reading books or maps while in the driver’s seat
– Talking with other people in the car
– Adjusting the radio or GPS

Drunk Driving/Drugs

It’s unfortunate that in this day and age we still see many people getting into accidents because they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or someone else was.

Speeding

Not only is speeding one of the causes of traffic accidents, but it also lowers the reaction time you have to avoid a car crash. In fact, speeding is just as bad as drunk driving because it impairs the way you drive and react or are able to react to a situation.

Bad Weather

Another one common cause of traffic accidents is bad weather. Heavy rain, fog, snow, ice and even high winds can make any driving situation scarier and that much more difficult to maneuver.

Whether you are driving down the street or across the country try to put the trip off until the weather gets better or use another form of transportation.

If you absolutely need to get from point A to point B do so carefully. If you find yourself in a scary situation get to rest-stop or pull off and take a break.

No matter how careful you are, a car accident is not 100% avoidable. Not only because of surprise situations that may arise, but also the fact that there are other people on the road who might not be as careful as you try to be.

If you need a free consultation or you would like to know more about your legal rights, contact Sloat & Nicholson at 1-800-873-3202.