In the year 2017, there were 3,564 fatalities that occurred in the state of California as a result of motor vehicle accidents. This sobering statistic serves as a reminder that it is always important to be safe on the roadways. While accidents happen, most of the common causes of car accidents are actually quite preventable. By making yourself aware of these common causes, you can do your part to reduce the number of accidents on California roadways.
Although you can follow the rules of the road carefully, you cannot always ensure that other drivers on the road are abiding by the law. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you may have a claim for compensation. Contact California car accident attorney Johann Hall right away to schedule your free consultation. Attorney Johann Hall has years of experience fighting for the rights of injured people who have been hurt in car accidents.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a serious threat to drivers on the road. It has been found to be the leading cause of car accidents for the last few decades. Distracted driving includes talking on the phone and texting while driving, as well as eating, applying makeup, and fiddling with the radio. Other forms of distracted driving include not paying attention or focusing on something else other than operating the vehicle, such as yelling at children in the back seat.
Driving Under the Influence
Another common cause of motor vehicle collisions is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Accidents caused by drunk or impaired drivers can be particularly deadly. As a driver, this is one of the most easily preventable causes of a collision, as anyone impaired by any substance should not get behind the wheel of a car.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Speeding and reckless driving are other common causes of car accidents. Speeding has been found to be the second most common cause of car accidents. Almost anyone who has driven a car has gone over the speed limit at some point, even inadvertently. It is important to make yourself aware of the speed limits while you are driving to increase your odds of avoiding an accident.
Reckless driving is another problem on the roadway, and it includes behaviors such as changing lanes too quickly, using aggressive driving maneuvers, passing other vehicles when it is unsafe to do so, following too closely to the vehicle in front of you, and driving well over the speed limit. As with some of the other common accident causes, you cannot control other drivers and what they choose to do, so always be alert and on the look out for other drivers engaging in reckless driving behaviors.
Poor Weather Conditions
Poor weather conditions, such as rain, snow, and fog are other common causes of motor vehicle accidents. Unlike most of the other accident causes, collisions caused by poor weather conditions are not as easily preventable. Still, there are ways to avoid accidents in bad weather conditions, such as slowing down as needed and pulling over off of the roadway if the weather conditions make it impossible to see clearly as you are driving.
Running Red Lights
Though easily preventable, many car accidents are a result of a driver running a red light or disobeying a stop sign. These accidents often occur because the driver running the red light believed that there were no other cars around, so running the red light would be no big deal. Often, a driver making a choice like this is in a hurry and not thinking this decision through properly.
Driving at Night
While driving at night is often unavoidable, it is yet another common cause of car accidents. There is a lack of visibility at night due to the darkness, so it is necessary to be alert while driving at night and to make sure that your lights are on.
Design Defects or Vehicle Malfunctions
Occasionally, car accidents happen as a result of a flaw in the car itself. Sometimes, these accidents occur due to a design defect in the car; but more often they occur because the driver had not been properly maintaining the car in some way, such as failing to replace faulty brakes. Always be sure to take care of your vehicle and get regular maintenance check-ups to make sure your car is in proper driving condition. Taking these precautions can help you avoid an accident and keep you from injuring yourself or someone else. If you would like to talk to us about your care, you can contact us at (707) 360-8717 or fill out our online contact form.