Blog

Leading Causes of Road Crashes and How to Prevent Them

Car accidents are regrettably quite common these days and the majority of them are often caused by human error. Although some are pretty minor, thousands of people lose their lives each year due to these terrible road crashes. To avoid risking your life while driving, it is important to drive in a careful and safe manner and adhere to all traffic rules. But just because you are extra cautious doesn’t mean you can be sure every other driver on the road will act appropriately. Most car accidents arise due to several factors. Here are some of the common causes!

Distracted Driving

Distractions are very common while driving and they are a major contributing factor in car accidents. Nowadays, drivers are equipped with all sorts of handheld electronic devices – smartphones for instance – raising concerns of distracted driving. You should pay attention by keeping your eyes on the road while driving. Avoid texting, calling, reading, grooming, or eating and talking while behind the wheel.

Alcohol and Drug Impairment

Despite numerous concerted efforts by authorities and other relevant institutions to eradicate drunk driving, car crashes related to alcohol and drug impairment continue to be quite prevalent. To make matters worse, drunk driving and driving while under the influence of drugs often result in some of the most horrific and deadly car crashes. In case you’ve had something to drink, it is advisable to take a taxi or have a sober person drive you home. It is never worth the risk.

Over-speeding

Although it is very tempting and thrilling to push your car to the limits when running late or in a hurry, over-speeding is among the leading and most common causes of road carnage. You should always resist this urge to push the speed limit and ensure you always drive within the stipulated speed limits.

Rain

While it’s not always easy to avoid driving in the rain, you should be extra cautious of the slippery and treacherous road conditions caused by a heavy downpour. Unless it is absolutely necessary and you can’t help it, you should try to avoid driving when it’s raining heavily. If the roads seem especially sleek or visibility is too poor for driving, just pull over and wait until the storm has dissipated to proceed with your journey.

Reckless Driving

This is another common cause of road accidents resulting from human error or even stupidity. Speeding way over the limit, changing lanes hastily and haphazardly, and acting aggressively while behind the wheel often leads to horrible crashes. It is important to remain calm and take your time while driving to avoid needless accidents that are usually caused by sheer recklessness.

Just because you are exercising the utmost care and adhering to all traffic rules to the letter doesn’t mean all the other drivers on the road are doing the same thing. In case you are in a car crash and you are not at fault, you should not be held liable for any damages caused by the mistakes or ignorance of the other driver. In such cases, consider protecting yourself by hiring a Fort Worth car accident attorney to file a car accident claim on your behalf. 


More to Read: