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The Top 25 Causes of Auto Accidents

#1 Distracted Driving

The primary reason for car accidents is not a criminal behavior such as drunk driving, speeding, or running a red light. Instead, distracted drivers represent the leading cause of car accidents in the United States currently. A distracted driver is defined as someone who takes their focus away from the road, typically to engage in activities such as talking on a cell phone, texting, or eating.

A study conducted jointly by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) revealed that 80 percent of car accidents and 65 percent of near-accidents involve some form of driver distraction within three seconds of the incident. Consequently, law enforcement agencies nationwide have intensified efforts to issue citations to individuals engaging in distracted driving, thereby jeopardizing the safety of other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

#2 Speeding

You’ve seen them on the highway. Many drivers ignore the speed limit and drive 10, 20 and sometimes 30 mph over the limit. Speed kills, and traveling above the speed limit is an easy way to cause a car accident. The faster you drive, the slower your reaction time will be if you need to prevent an auto accident.

In 1999, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 12,628 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.  The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by the NHTSA to be $28 billion per year.  Speeding is a deliberate and calculated behavior where the driver knows the risk but ignores the danger.  Fully 90 percent of all licensed drivers speed at some point in their driving career, and 75 percent admit to committing this offense regularly.

#3 Drunk Driving

Consuming alcohol impairs your ability to concentrate and perform effectively, making it extremely hazardous to operate a vehicle. Driving while under the influence of alcohol results in daily car accidents, despite being one of the leading preventable causes. It’s crucial to always designate a sober driver if you plan to drink while out.

In all 50 states, the legal limit for DUI is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher.  Your BAC level is defined as the percentage of alcohol in your blood, and it is the most common method of measuring one’s drunkenness.  While a BAC reading of .08 or higher makes it illegal to drive in the U.S., a person is still somewhat impaired by a lower level BAC.  knows the risk but ignores the danger.  Fully 90 percent of all licensed drivers speed at some point in their driving career, and 75 percent admit to committing this offense regularly.

#4 Reckless Driving

Failing to drive cautiously can lead to unnecessary car accidents, a common outcome for reckless drivers who speed, change lanes abruptly, or tailgate. These drivers often display impatience in traffic, so it’s essential to exercise extra caution when encountering aggressive driving behavior.

Disregard for the safety of people or property is a common element in reckless driving car accidents.  Reckless driving acts include, but are not limited to, the following:

Distracted driving, Drinking and driving, Driving under the influence of drugs, Driving without headlights, Improper turns, Running red lights, Running stop signs, Speeding, Suddenly braking, Tailgating.

#5 Rain

When weather conditions deteriorate, so do road conditions. Rain frequently leads to car accidents due to slick surfaces that make it challenging for vehicles, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles, to maintain control. This often results in vehicles spinning out or skidding during braking. To prevent accidents, exercise heightened caution when driving in rainy conditions.

In bad weather conditions, there are two types of drivers who can significantly increase the risk to others: excessively timid drivers and reckless drivers. Excessively timid drivers tend to overestimate the danger of weather conditions and drive at unreasonably low speeds. 

#6 Running Red Lights

When driving, it’s crucial to heed the red light as it signals a stop; failure to do so frequently results in car accidents. Drivers who run red lights risk causing fatal accidents, often leading to high-speed side-impact collisions. To prevent accidents, always check for oncoming traffic as you approach a green light.

#7 Running Stop Signs

 Ignoring stop signs should never happen, as it often leads to serious car accidents. Each year, thousands of accidents occur because a driver fails to stop at a stop sign. Many of these accidents involve rollovers or side-impact collisions. Always remember to check both directions before proceeding through a stop sign to ensure safety on the road.

#8 Teenage Drivers

Youth is wasted on the young, but careful driving is never wasted on young drivers. Unfortunately, teenagers aren’t often known for their carefulness. When teen drivers hit the roads they don’t always know what to do and that lack of experience ends up causing car accidents.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for United States teenagers, accounting for more than one-in-three teen wrongful deaths.  The risk of auto accidents is higher among 16- to 19-year-old teenage drivers than among any other age group.  Per mile driven, teenage drivers are four times more likely to get into a car accident than older motorists.

#9 Night Driving

 Driving during daylight hours presents its hazards, but driving at night nearly doubles the risk of a car accident. Reduced visibility makes it difficult to anticipate upcoming obstacles on the road. As dusk falls, it becomes crucial to heighten your awareness of the road and surrounding vehicles.

Car accident statistics are jarring at night.  Despite 60 percent less traffic on the roads, more than 40 percent of all fatal car accidents occur at night.

Sunlight provides the strongest light source.  When it goes down at night, there are a variety of man-made lights that help drivers safely navigate the roads.  Our eyes will adjust to lower levels of light (pupils dilate in darkness and constrict in brightness), but they have difficulty functioning properly when switching from bright to dark, or vice-versa.  This can happen quite a lot on the roads at night when you look directly into the headlights of oncoming traffic.

#10 Design Defects

No product is flawless, and cars are no exception. With hundreds of parts, any defective component can potentially lead to a significant car accident. Several automakers have faced issues with design flaws in the past, such as Ford Explorer rollovers and Toyota’s incidents of unintended acceleration crashes.

By law, manufacturers must design and engineer cars to meet minimum safety standards. While ongoing advancements aim to enhance the safety and efficiency of vehicles, issues with car design and functionality, often categorized as product liability, remain a leading cause of car accidents on the roads.

#11 Unsafe Lane Changes

At some point, you’ll inevitably need to change lanes—whether exiting a freeway or preparing for a turn. Unsafe lane changes frequently result in car accidents. To avoid unnecessary collisions, signal your intentions, check your blind spots thoroughly, and proceed cautiously when moving into another lane.

#12 Wrong-Way Driving

Everyone experiences lapses in judgment, but while driving, these can have fatal consequences. Taking a turn onto what appears to be a regular street might unknowingly lead you onto a one-way street going in the opposite direction. Such errors put everyone at risk, potentially leading towards a car accident.

#13 Improper Turns

Traffic control measures such as stop lights, turn signals, and designated lanes for turning exist for a reason: disregarding these rules frequently leads to car accidents. To avoid such incidents, always observe and follow traffic signs and right-of-way rules before making a turn.

#14 Tailgating

Numerous drivers exhibit impatience and recklessness by tailgating, leaving insufficient room to react if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly. Fatal accidents often result from this dangerous behavior at high speeds. To prevent such incidents, maintain a buffer of at least one car length for every 10 mph you travel behind the vehicle in front of you.

#15 Driving Under the Influence of Drugs

It’s not just alcohol that poses a danger when combined with drivers on the road. Both legal and illegal drugs can impair your ability to function fully as a driver. If your mind isn’t clear and you lack complete control over your body, driving can result in serious car accidents.

Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs is an unspoken danger on the roads.  Sure, there are organizations fighting against drunk drivers — and rightfully so — but “drugged driving” (DUI) is an issue that has fallen on the backburner of driver’s education even though it is a top cause of car accidents. According to the 2006 Nation Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 10.2 million people admit to driving under the influence of drugs.  

#16 Ice

You’re driving down the road on a dark evening, eager to get home to a warm fire. Suddenly, your car starts spinning dangerously out of control because you’ve hit black ice. Although Southern California rarely experiences ice, it remains a significant cause of car accidents in cities with cold weather climates.

#17 Snow

You’re driving down the road on a dark evening, eager to get home to a warm fire. Suddenly, your car starts spinning dangerously out of control because you’ve hit black ice. Although Southern California rarely experiences ice, it remains a significant cause of car accidents in cities with cold weather climates.

Snow’s dangerous mixture of ice and water is a dangerous recipe for car accidents each winter storm. Cities with cold winters know all-too-well just how dangerous snow can be for commuters.

#18 Road Rage

Many drivers have experienced anger towards another driver at some point, but some let their rage take over. Road rage incidents, such as tailgating aggressively or speeding past and abruptly braking in front of another driver, contribute to numerous avoidable car accidents each year.

Snow’s dangerous mixture of ice and water is a dangerous recipe for car accidents each winter storm. Cities with cold winters know all-too-well just how dangerous snow can be for commuters.

#19 Potholes

Motorists across California are keenly aware of the hazards presented by potholes on the streets. Driving over these potholes can lead to loss of control or tire blowouts. To prevent a car accident, drivers should actively avoid driving their vehicles over potholes when they spot them on the road.

Potholes are bowl-shaped openings in the road that can be up to 10 inches deep and are caused by the wear-and-tear and weathering of the roads.  They occur when the top layer of the road, the asphalt, has worn away and exposed the concrete base.  Once a pothole forms, it can grow to several feet, with rain water accelerating the process and creating a trap for vehicles.

#20 Drowsy Driving

Driver fatigue is often overlooked, but it significantly impairs one’s ability to drive safely when struggling to stay awake. Most accidents caused by drowsy driving happen at night. If you feel yourself nodding off at the wheel, it’s crucial to pull over when it’s safe and take a brief 30-minute power nap to refresh yourself.

#21 Tire Blowouts

Highways often display scattered debris from tire blowouts, which can lead to loss of vehicle control, particularly dangerous for larger vehicles such as semi-trucks. If you experience a tire blowout, focus on maintaining control of your vehicle and safely pull over; this proactive approach can help you avoid a serious car accident.

#22 Fog

Fog is not a frequent weather phenomenon, which is beneficial for car accident statistics. However, it significantly impairs visibility, sometimes reducing it to less than a car length ahead. To prevent accidents in foggy conditions, use your headlights (not high beams) to improve visibility while driving.

#23 Deadly Curves

Curves, often referred to as “dead man’s curves,” demand careful attention from all drivers. Many have tragically lost control and their lives in accidents along these bends. When approaching such curves, heed the posted speed limits and drive cautiously to prevent accidents.

#24 Animal Crossings

Drivers are expected to understand the rules of the road, but wild animals have no such training. They can unexpectedly venture onto streets, necessitating caution to avoid accidents. When encountering animal crossing signs, exercise vigilance and consider using high beams in rural, wooded areas to enhance visibility and reduce the risk of collisions.

#25 Street Racing

The Fast and the Furious movie franchise has glamorized street racing, which is an underground culture known for fast cars and deadly accidents. Vehicles equipped with turbo engines and nitrous oxide boosters often reach extremely high speeds during these races, increasing the severity of any resulting accidents and decreasing the likelihood of survival for those involved.

Call Us If You've Been Injured In A Car Accident

As California car accident attorneys, we understand that vigilant drivers have the best chances of avoiding accidents. Being attentive not only to other vehicles but also to road hazards can help prevent collisions. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact us at (844) 839-9838 for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer.

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