What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Accident of two cars on a highway

When people are learning how to drive, they are taught to place safety first. Sadly, car accidents can happen at any time. While car accidents can range in size from the smallest fender benders to the largest multi-car pileups, even small car accidents can lead to major injuries. Therefore, people need to do everything they can to avoid car accidents, protecting themselves and other drivers from potential catastrophes. This is where a car accident lawyer can be helpful.

One of the most common causes of car accidents is distracted driving. While there have been a lot of tech advances that have made our lives easier, they also make driving more dangerous. For example, people think that they can multi-task at all times. In reality, when they try to do something else while driving, they are shifting their attention away from the road. Cars are heavy. Cars move quickly. Even shifting attention away from the road for a split second can lead to a serious accident. This is why people need to make sure they do not text and drive. They also should not talk on the phone and drive. This is called distracted driving.

Another reason why car accidents happen has to do with driving while tired. People have things to do and most people do not get the right amount of sleep at night. This means that many people get behind the wheel of a car while tired. If someone falls asleep while driving, they lose control of their vehicle. This means that they might run off the road or strike other cars. Falling asleep also means that people are not awake to step on the brakes. Therefore, car accidents involving tired driving often take place at high speed. This can lead to major injuries.

Finally, drunk driving is still a major problem. During the past few decades, there have been a lot of interventions that have reduced the frequency of drunk driving car accidents. On the other hand, there are still lots of people who drive while impaired. Alcohol causes the reflexes to slow, judgment to be impaired, and can even cause people to fall asleep while driving. Therefore, the punishments for drunk driving are stiff. Everyone has to be responsible and make sure they call a cab (or a rideshare driver) if they go out drinking.

These are just a few of the most common causes of car accidents. It is critical for everyone to keep these top causes in mind so that they can take avoidance measures that could protect themselves and their loved ones. Even small car accidents have the potential to lead to serious injuries.

 

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