7 Common Causes of Car Accidents

Did you know that around 94% of all car accidents are due to driver error? It’s easy to attribute accidents to outside sources but that doesn’t help anyone. Many of the common causes of car accidents are preventable. We’ve put together a guide that’ll help you understand the main reasons for accidents so that you know how to better protect yourself on the road.

Read on to learn everything you need to know.

1. Impaired Driving

One of the biggest instigators of auto accidents is impairment. Anything that affects your state of mind leads to riskier driving.

Drunk driving, for instance, results in around 32 deaths every single day. Even a small amount of alcohol can make a significant difference in your cognition and driving.

Being exhausted while driving is a danger because your reflexes slow down and you might fall asleep at the wheel. Over 200 crashes occur every day because of drowsy driving.

Anger is also a detriment to your safety. Road rage often causes you to react to situations in an unsafe manner. You might speed up, take a bad turn, or even slam on your brakes.

Fear of driving is a lesser-known impairment but still important to recognize. You’ll never react with the confidence you need to drive safely. You should see a professional about your feelings when it comes to driving before committing to a trip.

It’s important to take extra precautions when you get behind the wheel.

2. Speeding

Speeding is one of the most reckless things a driver can do on the road. It’s the culprit behind 29% of car crashes every year.

The speed limits are there for a reason and it puts everyone at risk if you don’t follow them.

With over 20 million people getting injured on the road each year, it’s up to every driver to follow the proper speed limits. This makes certain that no one gets into a bad accident due to negligence.

A personal injury can take years to go away, so always do your best to follow the limit whenever you drive.

3. Distractions

Did you know that texting while driving makes your chance of getting into an auto accident 23 times more likely? It doesn’t take much for a distraction to cause an accident, especially if you’re driving on a high-speed road.

Make sure your children have activities to keep them busy. Keep any pets in a carrier or on a leash so that they can’t get up to the front seats. Limit any music or movies from playing and put your phone on silent until you arrive at your destination.

Not all distractions are possible to avoid. Billboards, for instance, can be a distraction for many drivers. By limiting your potential distractions before you hit the road, you’ll protect yourself as much as possible.

4. Poor Vehicle Maintenance

When was the last time you had your vehicle serviced? When was the last time a mechanic gave it a thorough inspection? When did you last give it a quick inspection on your own?

It’s easy to ignore car maintenance sometimes. If you’re busy at work or have a lot of other responsibilities, maintenance takes a back seat.

The problem with this is that poor maintenance can lead to bad accidents. A worn tire could burst at any moment. Your brakes could give out at a vital moment.

It’s essential to your safety to make certain that your car is up-to-date with its maintenance and inspections at all times.

5. Ignoring Road Safety Rules

Have you ever spotted a yellow light up ahead and decided to speed up so that you wouldn’t have to stop?

It’s a tempting thing that everyone goes through at some point. However, it’s a terrible habit to get into since it puts everyone on the road at risk.

It may delay your arrival by a few minutes, but you need to follow the safety rules to prevent accidents.

Come to a full stop at all stop signs. Yield when you’re instructed to. Slow down at yellow lights no matter how little distance is left to go past the intersection.

These are all things you can actively do to keep both you and your passengers safe from life-changing auto accidents.

6. Bad Weather Conditions

Not all of the main causes of accidents are due to driver error. Sometimes there are weather conditions that make it difficult to drive.

Whenever possible, postpone your trip until the weather gets better. Even an hour’s delay can make a big difference in the safety of your driving.

It’s not possible to avoid rainy or icy conditions at all times. We all have responsibilities that won’t wait.

When this happens, slow down and drive with caution. Leave earlier so that you don’t feel the need to go faster than necessary. By slowing down, you’re giving your tires more traction on the road and it will help you arrive without any problems.

7. Damaged Roads

Another aspect of driving that causes accidents are the roads themselves. Potholes and broken asphalt make it difficult to drive on a road without putting yourself at risk.

If there’s a damaged road you drive on all the time, try finding an alternative route until it’s fixed. Go the long way to your destination instead of trying to take a shortcut that’s full of damage.

When you come upon a damaged bit of road, slow down. Go around the damage only if you are certain no other cars are coming. Otherwise, go over the damage with care until you pass over it.

These extra precautions will keep you safe no matter the conditions of the road.

Understanding the Common Causes of Accidents Prevents Them From Happening

Now that you know about the common causes of vehicle accidents, it’s easier to protect yourself against them. Instead of falling into the same mistakes as other drivers, you’ll know when it’s safe to drive and when it’s not.

This knowledge alone gives you and your family far more security when you get behind the wheel.

Sometimes even the best defense isn’t enough to prevent an accident. If you need an injury attorney, contact Alpha Accident Lawyers today. We’ll help you through this situation every step of the way.