Despite reduced traffic volume during the stay-at-home orders in the spring, car accidents were still – and are still – occurring. The causes of motor vehicle accidents remain largely the same this year, with the majority of crashes attributable to human error.
Here are some of the most frequent contributing factors:
Speeding. In 2018, speeding caused the deaths of 9,378 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Speeding makes it difficult to control the vehicle and increases the time required to come to a stop.
Distractions. Despite the years of awareness campaigns, distracted driving continues to be a potent cause of crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 2,841 people were killed by distracted driving in 2018. All of those deaths were preventable, as were the distracted driving deaths in all other years. Motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists are all at risk of injury and death caused by a distracted driver.
Intoxication. About 30 people die every day in the U.S. in drunk driving wrecks. Intoxicated driving impairs vision, coordination, judgement, reaction time, concentration, speed control and other important abilities required to drive.
Aggressive driving. Driving in a bad mood is never a good idea. An aggressive driver deliberately drives in a way that shows disregard for safety. Examples include tailgating, speeding, running red lights and stop signs, changing lanes without signaling, blocking cars who are trying to pass and weaving between cars dangerously.
Failure to wear a seatbelt greatly increases the risk of injury and death in the event of a crash. Buckle up every time, no matter how long or far the drive. Passengers and drivers should both be buckled.
What to do if You’ve been in an Accident
An experienced accident attorney pursues maximum compensation on behalf of the injured victim. Compensation may be awarded for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other consequences of the crash.
At McPhillips Fitzgerald & Cullum, LLP, our experienced accident attorneys in New York and Florida are ready to help you decide what to do next. To schedule a free consultation to find out if you have a car accident case, please contact us.