Let’s face it: accidents are inevitable, and they happen. When they do, you might sustain injuries, car damage, and a possible increase in insurance premiums. Safe driving will keep your insurance premiums in check and you and your loved ones safe.
Car accidents are more common than most individuals think. The biggest problem is that most causes of car accidents are preventable if drivers follow the common traffic rules in their states. Road accidents can be disastrous and financially crippling, especially if you don’t have insurance coverage.
Below are the most common causes of car accidents and how to avoid them.
Over-Speeding
Over-speeding is one of the major causes of car accidents, resulting in fatal injuries and even death. Unfortunately, most road users still practice this illegal behavior every day. When you are over-speeding, you risk losing control of the vehicle and causing a road crash.
Sometimes, when you’re driving at high speed, you may not have enough time to stop the car if you run into an obstacle. Your vehicle will take longer to stop, leading to a collision with the obstacle. Even if you’re not driving at extremely high speed, you put yourself and the people in your car at risk just by driving above the speed limit.
To avoid causing an accident, ensure you keep an eye on your car’s speed while on the road. Remember to maintain the speed limit to ensure your safety and avoid causing an accident.
Remember that speeding also puts other road users at risk. To reduce your speed if you don’t want to be responsible for another individual’s injuries or even death.
Distracted Driving
Distractions are the most common cause of road accidents. According to a report, the number of accidents that happen annually due to distracted driving is more than those caused by drunk driving and speeding.
Truck drivers are often the cause of most accidents that involve distracted driving. That’s because they’re popularly known for their lack of road discipline and bad driving habits. Some truck drivers often hold something to eat in one hand while controlling the steering wheel with the other.
Other drivers tend to drive while talking on the phone. When drivers do these things intentionally, these types of behaviors are classified as reckless driving. When you intentionally engage in distracting activities while driving, you put yourself and other road users at risk.
Ensure you pay attention to the road and avoid any activities that might take your attention off the road. Keep your phone away and avoid eating while driving.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Alcohol and other drugs increase your chances of getting into an accident. Driving under the influence is another leading cause of road accidents. When you are drunk or under the influence of drugs, it reduces your ability to focus on the road while driving.
Drugs and alcohol also lead to a slower reaction time if you encounter an obstacle on the road. For this reason, driving under the influence is considered illegal in all states. However, every state has a different blood alcohol concentration limit.
If a driver surpasses the state limit, they are considered to be driving under the influence (DUI) based on their state law. If you get into an accident and the other party was driving under the influence, ensure you contact a reputable car accident lawyer to help you. Since driving under the influence is illegal, you may get compensation for the resulting damage.
Weather Conditions
Harsh weather conditions such as heavy rain could lead to the occurrence of a road accident. When the road is wet, it becomes slippery. This makes the driver lose control, especially if they are speeding.
Driving in the rain is very complicated. However, other risks may also magnify the risks of driving in the rain.
These factors include poor vehicle maintenance, which makes the car more susceptible to obstacles on the road. If your car tires aren’t well maintained, they may not have enough grip on the road to keep it stable.
While driving in the rain is not always avoidable, you can take measures to ensure that you are safe. The more you drive in the rain, the higher your chances of getting into an accident. Check out this blog for tips to help you avoid accidents while driving in the rain.
Red Light Jumping
Most motorists are tempted to skip red lights, especially when they’re in a hurry. Others think that jumping red lights will save them car fuel. Research shows that obeying traffic lights and following state traffic rules helps drivers reach their destination safely and saves them time on their routes.
Red light jumping is often common among reckless drivers who often overlook traffic lights. Eventually, an accident occurs, making you miss your appointment and get late to work. To arrive safely and on time, it’s essential to obey road signs and stick to following traffic lights.
Tailgating
Most drivers often tailgate when the car in front is driving too slowly. If you’re in such a situation, be very careful.
The driver in front is probably driving slowly for a reason. They could be having an issue or looking for an address and could come to a stop at any second. The driver could also be elderly or new to driving, so they could come to a stop at any minute, causing an accident.
Always keep your distance if someone is driving too slowly and have more space to react to sudden stops or movements. If you notice another driver tailgating you, give way to them and let them pass. It’ll be worth it.
Common Types of Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them
With millions of drivers on the road every day, the potential for human error and the risk of an accident is high. While most road crashes are minor, others can be fatal. Severe road accidents may lead to damages, injuries, trauma, stress, and financial constraints.
To avoid these problems, ensure you pay attention to the road when driving. There are numerous types of car accidents. Below are the different types of car accidents and how to avoid them.
Packed Car Damage
Packed vehicle damage is a common type of accident where a parked car is hit by a moving vehicle. Whether you leave your car on the side of the road or in a parking lot, there are steps you can take to avoid a parked car collision.
Maximize Your Car’s Space
Ensure you always park in the center of the parking spot. If the car is too close to the parking line, ensure you reposition it. This way, your car will not be hit by other vehicles pulling in and out of the adjacent parking spots.
Go the Distance
Don’t just park your car in the busiest spot. Select one that’s away from all the heavy traffic. This will reduce your chance of another car hitting your parked vehicle.
Park Street-Smart
Don’t park your car near any busy intersections, driveways, or tight turns. Your car may not be visible to oncoming traffic, leading to a collision.
Park in a Garage
If you are able to, park your car in a garage. The main idea here is to park your car in a safe spot. There is no safer spot to park your car than in a garage.
Single-Car Accidents
Single car accidents include crashes with animals, road barriers, and debris. They also include crashes when a driver is driving off-road and rolls over. These types of accidents are avoidable.
Take the below steps to avoid causing a single-vehicle accident:
- Drive carefully during harsh weather conditions
- Always pay attention to the road when driving
- Take steps to refresh your winter driving skills if you’re rusty
- Don’t over-speed
Driving too fast during harsh weather conditions might lead to you losing control of the vehicle. Ensure you avoid driving on flooded roads and be careful when driving on ice and snow. You never know when the road conditions might change, so ensure that you maintain a safe speed.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes are some of the major reasons for car insurance claims. Whether you hit the vehicle in front of you or your car is hit on the rear end, it’s very easy to avoid this type of accident. Consider the below tips to help you avoid a rear-end collision:
- Be strategic when you’re driving and avoid situations that may need you to brake suddenly
- Never get behind the wheel when you’re feeling drowsy or have consumed alcohol
- Never take your eyes off the road when driving
- Always keep a safe distance between you and the car in front
When driving, it’s essential to avoid any obstacles and distractions that may lead to accidents. Driving under the influence also increases your chances of getting into a fatal accident. Rear-end accidents only take one second of distraction to happen.
Backing Collisions
Accidents often happen when you’re backing from a driveway or a parking spot. The best way to avoid this type of accident is to park your car in a way that helps you avoid backing up, especially if you’re backing up into traffic.
Another useful tip is to install a rear-end camera to help you when backing up. If your car doesn’t have one, you can use the below tips:
- Avoid doing anything distracting when backing up
- Back out of the driveway into the most direct and shortest route available
- Always use your brakes and mirrors when backing up until you’re clear of obstructions
- Reverse in a straight line and only turn when your car is clear of any obstructions, such as packed vehicles
- Reverse slowly and ensure you check the traffic around you
Backing collisions are quite common, especially for new drivers. When you are backing up, ensure you follow the above steps to avoid causing an accident.
Collisions at Intersections
Intersections are common areas where car crashes often occur. A distracted driver could miss the traffic signs and the lights changing from green to yellow. They may also not take the time to stop and pause before making a turn, missing any other vehicles at the intersection.
Ensure you practice defensive driving to prevent any intersection accidents. Pause before leaving your lane after the light turns green. Ensure that no one is overspeeding through the intersection before you cross the street.
When you are approaching a yellow light, ensure you are cautious instead of taking chances. Most drivers often speed through yellow lights on a cross street. Look out for such drivers too.
Contact the Best Car Accident Attorney to Represent You in Case of a Crash
While there are numerous steps you can take to prevent a car accident from happening, sometimes, prevention isn’t always possible. No matter what driving safety tips you follow, it’s still possible to be involved in an accident. Some accidents happen due to the negligent actions of other road users.
If you are injured in an accident, ensure you contact the best car accident lawyer in your area to help you secure maximum compensation for your damages, financial losses, and injuries. After an accident, you may suffer property damage, bodily injuries, and financial losses.
The right attorney would help you get compensation if the accident wasn’t your fault. However, if the accident was, an attorney will defend you and ensure that you are not unfairly charged.
Now You Know the Causes of Car Accidents
Most causes of car accidents are avoidable and can be prevented before they happen. The major cause of road accidents is poor driving habits. Motorists need to know these mistakes and take measures to avoid them.
Avoiding the above mistakes will help you protect yourself and the people in your car. Car accident prevention and responsible driving mean sticking to speed limits and complying with traffic rules. This helps you avoid any potential mishaps and collisions.
Did you like this article about the causes of car accidents? Check out other posts on our website for more informative tips.
