News & Insights
What Are the Most Common Causes of Auto Accidents?
Car accidents have claimed countless lives and inflicted serious injuries. Even when drivers are careful behind the wheel, their safety can be instantly compromised by a reckless, distracted, fatigued, or impaired driver. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you have the right to consult a personal injury lawyer in Annapolis. You shouldn’t have to pay for property damage and medical bills that resulted from someone else’s poor decisions. An attorney can help you recover compensation and move forward after the collision.
Driver Distraction
One of the leading causes of car accidents in the U.S. is distracted driving. The dangerous nature of texting while driving is well known, yet countless drivers do it anyway. And unfortunately, there are many other sources of driver distraction. Rubbernecking at accident scenes can easily lead to another collision. Drivers can also be distracted by the radio, maps, billboards, and passengers.
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation can have many adverse effects on your health; it can also claim a life if a sleep deprived individual is behind the wheel. Sleep deprived drivers are a particular risk late at night and early in the morning, yet fatigue can affect an individual’s driving abilities at any time.
Alcohol and Drugs
Thousands of people die each year because of car accidents caused by drivers who were intoxicated. Thanks to public awareness campaigns, the dangers of mixing alcohol with driving are well known. However, many people underestimate the amount of alcohol they consume and choose to drive anyway, assuming that they are not impaired. Drugged driving is another problem that is far too prevalent. Drivers can easily cause accidents when under the influence of a recreational or controlled substance, even if they have a prescription for the drug and are taking it correctly.
Excessive Speed
With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it’s certainly not uncommon to encounter speeding drivers on the road. Many drivers underestimate the serious risks of speeding and overestimate their abilities to handle a speeding car. Speeding reduces the amount of time a driver has to react to changing traffic patterns, while increasing the length of time it takes to brake. Additionally, a car traveling at excessive speeds is more likely to cause a serious car crash that may involve fatalities.