It is no secret that car accidents happen every day and can result in debilitating and lifelong injuries for victims. Indeed, these injuries can turn life upside-down for the victims’ whole families. It is helpful for victims of car accidents to know that a personal injury claim for damages may be able to help them recover compensation from the negligent driver responsible for causing the accident. It may also helpful to be familiar with the common causes of car accidents.
Driver caution is key
There are several common causes of car accidents including:
- Driver inattention and distractions: When a driver loses focus on the task of driving, there is more danger that they will cause an accident. Drivers can lose focus and attention on the roadway for a variety of reasons including manual, visual and cognitive distractions.
- Fatigue and drowsiness: Drivers can also lose focus on the roadway because of fatigue or drowsiness which can also increase the changes that they will cause a car accident. Driving while drowsy, and the impacts of driver fatigue, can be a dangerous as driving while impaired.
- Alcohol and drug impairment: Drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs can cause accidents and impaired driving results in tens of thousands of car accidents a year. Driving while drunk or otherwise impaired is extremely dangerous.
- Driving too fast for roadway conditions: Speeding is a significant contributing factor to car accidents when drivers fail to adjust their speed for roadway conditions or are traveling at too high a rate of speed.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that there are 6.5 million car accidents annually in the United States which result in greater than 2.7 million injuries and 36,000 deaths. When a driver has been negligent, including by engaging in common car accident-causing behaviors, they may be liable to victims for their damages and a personal injury claim for damages may be able to help.