Common Causes of Car Accidents

Motor vehicles are complicated machines, and require discipline and training to use properly. Although most people use them safely the majority of the time, there are numerous ways that they can lead to a severe crash. This is often a major factor in determining who was at fault. Common causes of car accidents include:

• Rear-ending
• Speeding
• Running a stop sign or stoplight
• Failure to yield
• Distracted driving
• Drunk driving
• Failure to wear a seatbelt
• Failure to maintain your vehicle in a proper manner
• Following too closely
• Failing to observe surroundings
• Failing to drive as a prudent person would

How Does the Cause of the Accident Affect Liability and Injuries?

Drunk driving can impact a car accident case because, in many situations, the intoxicated person was not following the rules of the road. They may have been weaving across the line or blowing past stop signs, and a person’s intoxication could help pin liability onto them. You can use a police citation for a DUI as evidence in a civil case for damages.

The specific cause of the crash could also affect the injuries that follow. Driving well over the speed limit will make a crash that much more violent due to the velocity and the lack of reaction time. Running a stop side and getting T-boned could result in more severe injuries because the driver was not expecting it and was unable to brace themselves in time. We also see severe accidents when someone was driving in the wrong direction because it leads to a head-on crash. The deploying of the airbags in head-on crashes can lead to unique injuries of their own, even though it may save someone from death.

Driving at night or in bad weather is also a frequent cause of car accidents. Motorists should have their lights on after dark, or in foggy or rainy weather. They also need to drive in a way that makes sense for the road conditions. If there is heavy snow and ice, they should drive just under the speed limit to prevent skidding, or else they risk being held liable for any crash that follows.

Talk to an Attorney About Common Causes of Car Accidents

From texting while driving, to tailgating to closely, there are no shortage of causes of traffic accidents. The cause of your incident will play a big part in who was liable and who could claim damages in a personal injury suit. Reach out to StolzenbergCortelli, LLP and speak to one of our experienced car accident lawyers when you believe you have standing to file suit.