Vehicle accidents can happen for many reasons. These include inexperienced drivers, fatigued drivers, speeding, and animal collisions. Unfortunately, all of these can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. However, there are some things that you can do to avoid getting into an accident.
Reason Behind Vehicle Accidents
Speeding
One of the most common causes of vehicle accidents is speeding. Vehicles that speed will need more time to stop and will have less reaction time, making them more likely to crash. Speeding contributes to more than a third of all vehicle accidents. Many accidents involve speeding, and the results can be disastrous.
The consequences of speeding include serious injuries and even fatalities. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycle drivers are at the highest risk for fatal injuries. However, even if victims suffer critical injuries, they can suffer wrongful death due to the force of impact. If this happens, families may wish to file a wrongful death claim against the driver.
Fatigued Drivers
One of the most common causes of vehicle accidents is driver fatigue. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, drowsy drivers fail to respond to or perceive situations on the road. When this happens, they may veer off the road or fall asleep behind the wheel.
According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, approximately half of drivers reported falling asleep behind the wheel at least once during the previous thirty-day period. Even if the survey only included a few drivers from different states, that number is still significant. In addition, studies have shown that drivers who are sleepy behind the wheel have impaired judgment, slower reaction time, and less ability to focus.
Inexperienced Drivers
One of the most common causes of vehicle accidents for new drivers is inexperience. This is because new drivers do not yet know the rules of the road and are not yet trained to respond appropriately to dangerous situations. For instance, they may not realize that the road is wet or slippery. This may cause them to slam on their brakes or oversteer their vehicle, leading to an accident.
Inexperienced drivers fail to wear seat belts while driving. This could lead to serious or fatal injuries. According to the CDC, only half of the high school students wear their seat belts at all times. The negligent driver may be held responsible for the crash and may be required to pay damages.
Animal Collisions
Since 1975, almost 6,000 people have been killed in motor vehicle collisions involving an animal. This figure equates to almost four percent of all fatalities each year. While this number has decreased in recent years, it is still a staggering statistic. There have been fewer than 200 fatalities from animal collisions since 2010.
These accidents are often scary and heartbreaking for everyone involved. Most drivers feel a variety of emotions after hitting an animal. Some drivers experience anger, while others experience nausea. Approximately one-quarter of motorists check on the injured animal to see if there are any injuries.
Slick Roads
When driving on slick roads, drivers should use extreme caution because these conditions can make the roads slippery, and the car’s tires lose grip. These conditions also reduce visibility, making it more difficult to steer and avoid accidents. In addition, slick roads are often caused by poor weather conditions. Heavy rains, snow, and ice can make roads unsafe and increase the risk of car accidents.
Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts can be devastating because they affect how a vehicle handles, causing it to lose control and lead to a potentially devastating accident. Keeping the pressure on your tires at the proper level, checking them for damage, and avoiding hazards can all help prevent tire blowouts. Properly maintained tires also improve the handling and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. But tire blowouts can also lead to serious road-related injuries and accidents.
If you are in a vehicle accident involving a tire blowout, the best way to deal with it is to stay calm and maintain control of the vehicle. Attempting to brake quickly is not a good idea because the vehicle might lose control. Instead, experts recommend maintaining one foot on the accelerator while applying gentle pressure and steering in the opposite direction of the blowout.
Potholes
When the weather turns cold and then warm, the pothole season begins. The varying temperatures wreak havoc on roads, causing water to seep through cracks. The freezing water pushes pavement sections upward while the thawing water leaves unsupported pockets. The varying temperatures also cause soil erosion under the road surface, creating weak spots prone to collapse.
To minimize the potential damage caused by potholes, you should drive slowly and carefully over the surface. It would help if you avoided braking directly over a pothole, as this can increase the risk of an accident. Instead, when you hit a pothole, hold the steering wheel tightly and steer the car straight ahead.
