Is Technology Making Auto Accidents Better Or Worse?
What Causes Auto Accidents? If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, you are entitled to be compensated for the damages. But, before filing an claim, it's crucial to know why these accidents occur and what you can do to avoid them in the future. Car accidents can be caused by a myriad of factors. These include drivers, vehicles and environmental conditions. 1. Drunk Driving Driving under the influence is a crime in all 50 states. It can result in serious injuries or even death in an auto accident. It's dangerous for passengers and drivers of the vehicle as well cyclists or pedestrians. The presence of alcohol in the bloodstream can have a significant influence on your driving ability and reaction time, especially when you drink a lot in a short time. You're impaired in your decision-making and coordination skills, which means you aren't able to react quickly enough to the traffic conditions and other vehicles on the roads. In addition, drinking can trigger memory lapses, sometimes referred to as blackouts. This means that your brain isn't able to transfer information from short-term memories to long-term ones, so you might forget important details in the event that something happens while you're drinking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) one-third of all traffic fatalities are caused by drivers with blood alcohol levels (BAC) higher than the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Although the majority of people who die in alcohol-related crashes are adults, children can also be seriously injured or even killed if the driver is impaired. Younger drivers are at greater risk for committing a DUI than adults of a certain age because they are more prone to drinking excessively. This happens when you consume excessive amounts of alcohol in a short time. It is more prevalent among young professionals and college students who are frequent guests at social events where they can drink alcoholic drinks. You can make a personal injury claim to claim compensation for injuries sustained in an accident involving a drunk driver. A skilled lawyer can help you get the money you need. You'll need to prove negligence in the first place and show that the drunk driver was accountable for your losses. The next step is to show evidence of intoxication by the drunk driver, including eyewitness testimony, as well as accident reconstruction. 2. Speeding Speeding is among the most common driver behaviors which can cause auto accidents. It's also a risky behavior which can result in thousands of preventable deaths each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nearly one-third (33%) of all fatal auto accidents are caused by speeding. The problem with speeding is that it's hard to control your vehicle at speeds that are higher, which makes you more vulnerable to getting into an accident. Speeds that are excessively fast for the conditions could increase the risk of other driver mistakes, such as driving too fast or when tired. This is why speeding is more common in rural areas where traffic conditions are less conducive to safe driving than those in urban areas. If you're accused of speeding, you may try to convince an officer that you drove in a safe manner in the present conditions. Certain states, such as Texas, have a system called “presumed Speed Limit Violations” that allow the court to decide if your speed was reasonable given the circumstances. However in these instances the judge will need to determine if you were traveling at a faster speed than other drivers on that particular road. Additionally, your capacity to show that you were in a crisis situation or were unable to slow down due to weather or traffic conditions could aid in avoiding the ticket. Although speeding isn't something everyone should do, it happens. It's particularly dangerous for young drivers, since they are more likely to be caught speeding than more experienced drivers. Many states have tools to help them catch these drivers. 3. Distracted driving Distracted driving is a set of activities that divert attention of drivers from the task of driving. These distractions may be manual, visual, or cognitive. Examples include talking on a cell phone or eating, texting, reading or tuning the radio using the navigation system, or dealing with passengers. These distractions could be dangerous because they take the driver's attention away from the road. They can also make it harder for drivers to react swiftly to avoid an accident or to detect a problem before it happens. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Distracted driving is responsible for thousands of car accidents and deaths every year. In fact, tens of thousands of lives could be saved each year if drivers put aside any activity that takes their attention away from the road. Despite the fact that states have laws that prohibit the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving, a lot of drivers still use them. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, researchers discovered that drivers who stared at their phones or distracted for more than 2 seconds increased their risk of being involved in a crash. While using cell phones can be the most common source of distraction but other activities like drinking coffee and talking to passengers, eating, looking out the window, or looking after a child in the back seat could lead to auto accidents too. Teen drivers are at a higher risk of being distracted behind the driving. 4. Failure to Yield Drivers who fail to yield their right-of-way could cause serious injuries , or even death if they fail to yield their right-of-way. The injured parties in an accident like this can sue to recover their losses and expenses. New York law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way other vehicles approaching an intersection either a stop sign or stop sign. A driver must also yield to pedestrians who is crossing a street that is not the crosswalk. auto injury attorneys near me to yield could result in a collision between two vehicles or an accident with pedestrians. These accidents often result in pedestrians being hurt as they don't have the same protections as vehicles. Based on the speed and the weight of the vehicle In the event of a collision, failure to yield can cause severe physical injuries. These injuries could include broken bones or spinal injuries, lacerations or other serious injuries. According to the National Safety Council, 15% of fatal traffic accidents are caused by failure to yield. This is a substantial percentage that must be considered when considering driving safety. Drivers who fail to yield to traffic signals can be charged with a traffic offense. This can lead to a suspension of their license as well as insurance and employment. An attorney can assist you understand your legal options if you are ticketed for failing to yield. Lowney Law, LLC can assist you in filing an appeal for compensation for the driver's failure to yield to traffic accident. We will analyze the evidence and facts to determine who was negligent in the incident, and we will develop a strong case on your behalf. 5. Side-Impact Collisions Side-impact collisions, also known as broadside or T-bone collisions are among the most deadly types of auto accidents. They occur when one vehicle collides with another from the side, resulting in severe injuries and , in most cases, fatalities. These accidents can be caused by numerous reasons, including distracted driving or not yielding. Malfunctioning traffic signals and poor weather conditions that reduce visibility or increases stopping distances can be the cause of these collisions. Although seatbelts as well as other safety devices have been improved however, they might not offer enough protection against side-impact collisions. These types of accidents leave more room for injuries and even death than those involving head-on or rear-end collisions. Injuries that may occur in side-impact car accidents include fractured bones, cuts, bruises, as well as injuries to the neck and back. Common chest injuries include rib fractures or internal bleeding. Side-impact collision victims usually wait too long to get examined or seek medical attention. This could lead to long-term effects, like concussions, or even traumatic brain injuries. In addition it is vital to recognize that these crashes are particularly damaging to children and elderly people. They can lead to an aortic injury and other complications, which may even cause death. In these situations it is imperative to seek legal advice from a seasoned auto accident lawyer as quickly as possible after the crash is over to protect your rights and ensure that you are able to recover the compensation you are entitled to for the damages you sustained.