No one gets into their vehicle expecting to have an accident. Car crashes are caused by a variety of factors, but often the results are the same. These accidents can result in damage to your vehicle, personal injury, and even death. In Arizona alone, there were 127,056 motor vehicle collisions in 2018 and sadly 916 ended in death. Knowing the most common car accident causes can help you know what to avoid.
Frequent causes for crashes include:
Reckless Driving
Thousands of traffic accidents happen each year due to reckless and aggressive driving. This type of driving can lead to poor reaction times and over 50% of car crashes and 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive drivers.
Drivers who engage in activities such as weaving, tailgating, ignoring traffic signals, changing lanes too quickly or improperly, or driving above the posted speed limit all put innocent drivers at risk. Speed-related accidents alone cost Americans $40.4 billion a year on average.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) continues to be a preventable, and sadly, a common cause of road accidents in the United States. DUI is a serious crime and the auto accidents that can result are often horrific.
Drunk driving reduces the ability to focus and decreases reaction time. The “legal limit” in Arizona is a blood alcohol content of 0.08, but you can still have an accident or be charged with DUI even if you are under this amount.
Distracted Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving while distracted claimed 3,142 lives in 2019. Distracted driving is defined as any activity that redirects your attention from the road. This can include talking on your cell phone, texting, talking to people in your vehicle, using the navigation system, eating, et cetera. Taking your eyes off the road for just 5 seconds (while traveling at 55mph), about the time it takes to check a text, is the equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Weather
Poor weather conditions can contribute to car accidents, with rain being one of the leading causes. During a storm, visibility deteriorates and roads can become slick. This makes it harder to avoid other vehicles, pedestrians, and any obstacles you may encounter. This is especially true if the driver is not exercising a duty of care and driving at a safe speed and leaving plenty of room for other vehicles.
Drowsy Driving
Another preventable common cause of accidents is drowsy driving, which impairs cognition and performance. Driving while tired can happen at any time but is more common in the late afternoon or between midnight and 6 am. Accidents caused by fatigue often, but not always, involve only a single driver.
Accidents Caused by Negligence
Determining whether or not the actions that caused an accident constitute negligence can be complicated. There are four elements that will need to be demonstrated and these are duty of care, breach of duty of care, proximate cause, and damage. A skilled personal injury attorney can examine the facts of your case and determine how to proceed.
Experienced Tucson Car Accident Lawyers
Most motor vehicle accidents are preventable, and they can leave victims confused about their rights. If you or a loved one has been injured or died in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it is important for you to get help. At Grabb & Durando, we have been protecting the rights of injured victims in Tucson for over 25 years and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
