Common Causes of Car Accidents
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, you need to speak with an experienced auto accident lawyer right away. Contact us online or call to schedule your free consultation.
Brad Parker, the founder of Parker Law Firm, tell us what we can do after being involved in a car accident.
Causes of Car Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) projects that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year, a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2021. The projection is the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the largest annual percentage increase in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System’s history. Behind each of these numbers is a life tragically lost, and a family left behind. The most common causes of car accidents include:
- Driving Over the Speed Limit: Speeding is the leading cause of car accidents in Texas. Driving at slower speeds is safer, according to crash data reported by the NHTSA. In 2019, 12,681 cars travelling at 50 to 60 mph were involved in a fatal accident. That same year, 11,814 cars at 60+ mph were involved in fatal accidents. In contrast, fewer than 4,800 vehicles travelling at 30 mph or slower were involved in a fatal crash.
- Distracted Driving: The second leading cause of Texas car accidents is driver inattention. Drivers can be distracted for any number of reasons, including using their cell phones, sending and receiving text messages, adjusting the radio or even eating. A one-second lapse in focus on the driving environment can lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
- Failure to Yield: When a driver turns left across oncoming traffic, they need to accurately judge the distance and the speed of the nearest oncoming car to avoid a collision. When someone does not properly execute this calculation, it can lead to a crash. The person making the turn often gets the worst of the impact.
- Road Rage: Drivers who are short-tempered with other drivers often drive aggressively. Speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights, changing lanes without signaling and using headlights or brakes to aggressively communicate with other drivers are all examples of road rage, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). It is almost impossible for other drivers to predict such erratic behavior, and crashes are often a result of this kind of dangerous driving.
- Drowsy Driving: Lack of sleep has a similar impact on drivers as drugs and alcohol. Tired drivers are less observant, have slower reaction times and risk falling asleep at the wheel and losing control of their cars. When drivers fail to get adequate sleep or continue to drive after feeling drowsy, they increase the chances of an accident.
- Drunk or Drugged Driving: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the annual cost of alcohol-related crashes at more than $44 billion. Drivers who have been drinking but are not legally drunk can experience a decrease in reaction time, which can lead to a crash. Whether a driver has taken legal prescriptions or illicit narcotics, drugs can impair their ability to make rational decisions and follow the rules of the road.
- Unfamiliar Roadways: There has been an influx of people moving to Texas in the last year. When drivers new to the area hit these roadways, their confusion and fear can cause accidents.
- Teenage Drivers: Lack of experience, poor judgment and risk-taking are often factors in car accidents involving teenage drivers. Teens are also more likely to be distracted by their cell phones.
Most Common Types of Car Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute (NHTSA), front-impact car collisions are the most common. In 2019, there were nearly 3 million front-impact collisions. This means that two or more vehicles collided head on. The second most common type of crash was rear impact, with 1,570,000 collisions. Our car accident attorneys say the following are other common types of crashes.
- Rear-end. This type of crash often causes injuries that are not discovered until days later. When a driver is not paying attention or is purposely following the car in front of him too closely, a crash can happen when the driver in front slows or stops suddenly.
- Head-on. When a drunk or distracted driver allows his car to cross the center line into the path of an oncoming vehicle, a head-on collision can occur. This kind of crash is the equivalent of driving straight into a brick wall at a high speed. In most cases, occupants of both cars are seriously injured or killed.
- T-bone. When a negligent driver runs a red light and hits a car that is passing through the intersection, this is called a T-bone accident. If there is a passenger on the side of the impact, this type of crash can be fatal.
- Rollover. When a car is forced off the road or must make a sudden maneuver to avoid another car or an obstacle, it can roll over, especially if it is a high-profile vehicle like an SUV. These crashes can be fatal for the occupants as they are tossed over and over.
- Hit-and-run. If a negligent driver leaves the scene of a crash, it is considered a hit-and-run. If the driver is never found, an injured victim must seek compensation from another source such as his own insurance coverage.
Common Right-of-Way Rules Violated at Intersections in Texas
In Texas, there are traffic rules regarding who has the right of way at an intersection. When a driver fails to obey these rules, he can cause others to suffer catastrophic injuries or death. Common failure-to-yield violations that cause accidents include:
- When driving on an unpaved road and approaching a paved road, the driver must yield the right of way to drivers on the paved road.
- If a driver is at an uncontrolled intersection, he is required to yield to any vehicles already in the intersection or to the right of his vehicle.
- When a motorist is making a left turn at an intersection, pedestrians and oncoming traffic have the right of way. If the driver is making a right turn, he must yield to through traffic entering the lane he plans to turn into and oncoming pedestrians.
- When approaching the main road from a private road, alley or driveway, the driver must wait for traffic on the main road to pass before proceeding.
- At a four-way stop, the vehicle who got there first has the right of way. If two vehicles get there at the same time, the vehicle to the right should enter the intersection first. Traffic should proceed in a counterclockwise direction.
- At a railroad crossing, the train has the right of way.
What to Do Immediately Following a Car Accident
No matter what kind of crash you are involved in, what you do right after the crash can make the difference between getting what you deserve and struggling to pay your medical bills. Our Texas personal injury lawyers advise clients to do the following, if possible, after a car accident:
- Call the police.
- Take pictures of the cars involved and the surrounding area.
- Get the names and numbers of any witnesses at the scene.
- See a doctor and follow his instructions.
- Report the accident to your insurance company.
- Call an experienced car accident attorney.
Take the Next Step With Parker Law Firm
If you were injured in a car accident anywhere across North Texas, our car accident claim attorneys are committed to pursuing justice by providing you legal options and holding the negligent party financially responsible for your recovery. We will help you pursue the financial settlement that will allow you to take the time you need to heal.
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