What are the Causes of a Car Accident?

In South Florida, we’re lucky enough to have three beautiful counties each with plenty to offer for not only residents but visitors too. When asked about their favorite part of living in South Florida, the people of Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Miami-Dade County would probably mention the delicious eateries, sunny weather, and abundance of professional sports franchises (among other things!).

Despite all the positives, one of the negatives is the number of road accidents.  You’ll see plenty of statistics in this guide, but the saddest fact is that the vast majority of accidents are preventable. 94% of all car accidents are caused by driver error, reports the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

In 2017 alone, over 37,000 people died across the United States as a result of car accidents. In Florida, we experienced the following:

• 254,000 injuries
• 3,000 deaths

Even if you’re careful on the roads, the sad truth is that you can’t always rely on other road users to practice the same caution. If you’ve been injured in an accident, you should hold the other driver accountable by contacting personal injury attorneys and seeking compensation.

Throughout the Internet, you’ll see the phrase ‘car accidents’. But, unless you’ve been in an accident, it’s hard to imagine how one can occur. With this in mind, here are the most common causes of car accidents in South Florida and the United States.

Distracted Driving

As frustrating as it is to read (and write!) this sentence, the most common cause of accidents is actually the easiest one to fix - distracted driving. What does this mean? Well, it includes any activity not linked to the primary task of driving a vehicle. For example:

• Drinking
• Turning to speak to people in the back of the vehicle
• Eating
• Using a cell phone (or any other device)
• Changing radio stations

Even though some people think that sending a quick WhatsApp message doesn’t take their attention away from the road, the task requires mental, visual, and motor attention. Every single day, distracted drivers cause over 1,000 injuries and nine deaths in the country.

Speeding

Sometimes, we glance down at our speedometer and realize that we’re slightly over the speed limit and apply the brakes. Yet, this is different from intentionally speeding and ignoring the laws of the road. If you’ve been injured by a speeding motorist, contact a South Florida personal injury car accident attorney for assistance.

Of all the road accidents on American roads, over half include speeding. Speeding doesn’t just cause accidents; it causes serious accidents. The speed limit is set for a reason - because it’s a safe traveling speed and allows drivers to react to the ever-changing environment around them. When speeding, drivers take risks and cannot react quickly enough when a new hazard presents itself.

Intoxication

As we reach the third largest cause of car accidents, you’re starting to learn why lawmakers are so frustrated with this problem, one that runs so deep in society. The top three causes of car accidents are all preventable, and this one involves driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

DUI cases in Florida have fallen, but there were still over 5,100 crashes due to alcohol in 2017 alone. What’s more, alcohol and drugs are involved in one-third of all road fatalities. In Florida, you cannot get behind the wheel of a vehicle if your bodily alcohol content is above 0.08.

Alcohol and drugs affect coordination, reaction time, vision, concentration, comprehension, and tracking. If you were hit by a driver under the influence, contact car accident attorneys today.

Aggressive and Reckless Driving

Ever notice those people on the road driving aggressively? Apparently, their trip on the road is the most important one and everybody should move out of their way. Examples include poor lane usage, speeding, merging without signaling, and erratic movements. According to one study, 2% of all Americans have admitted to running another driver off the road (or at least trying).

Tiredness

If you’re feeling tired and sleepy, don’t get behind the wheel of a heavy killing machine - it’s as simple as this. Sadly, too many people still take the risk, and it leads to accidents. In many cases, driving while tired is as bad as driving while under the influence of alcohol. Why? Because you struggle to concentrate, your vision is affected, and many of the other symptoms are similar too.

According to the CDC, around one-third of people in the United States fail to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night. If you only get five or six hours of sleep, you’re TWICE as likely to experience a car accident.

Other Causes of Car Accidents

We’ve seen the top five causes, but here are some others that cause problems on American roads every year:

• Rain and adverse weather
• Distracted Driving
• Road Rage
• Running stop signs and red lights
• Improper Turns
• Speeding
• Driving while sleepy
• Drunk Driving
• Deadly Curves
• Teenage Drivers
• Young drivers (some are nervous through their lack of experience)
• Car faults
• Street Racing
• Improper Lance Changes
• Driving in the dark
• Wrong-Way Driving
• Tailgating
• Potholes
• Tire blowouts
• Fog

Elsewhere, it could be a lack of local knowledge. When fog or snow comes down and you’re in new territory, you don’t know the layout of the area and may experience an accident. Meanwhile, some people think it’s acceptable to race on the roads.

South Florida Personal Injury Car Accident Attorney

Though most of us do everything we can to avoid a car accident, we can’t control all other drivers and we can’t control the weather. If you’ve been a victim of reckless/careless driving or negligence, call the brilliant personal injury attorneys today at The Injury Firm. As your car accident attorneys, we’ll protect your legal rights while gathering evidence, speaking to witnesses, dealing with paperwork and insurance companies, and setting you on the right path to the compensation you deserve.