The Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) reports that more than 38,000 people die every year as the result of car accidents in the U.S., as the leading cause of death for those 54 and younger, while another 4.4 million are injured seriously enough to require medical attention.
If you're injured in a car accident, especially if it's a serious injury, it can mean losing time from work, negatively impacting the quality of your life, and a big financial cost too, which is why it's important to secure the best accident lawyers possible. Of course, it's better to do everything you can to avoid getting into an accident in the first place. Knowing the most common causes can allow you to reduce your risk.
While you may not be able to reduce your risk of being impacted by someone else who is driving while distracted, you can significantly decrease your risk of causing an accident by paying attention to the road. That means no calls or texting, no crying, applying makeup, or anything else other than driving.
If you're injured in a car accident, especially if it's a serious injury, it can mean losing time from work, negatively impacting the quality of your life, and a big financial cost too, which is why it's important to secure the best accident lawyers possible. Of course, it's better to do everything you can to avoid getting into an accident in the first place. Knowing the most common causes can allow you to reduce your risk.
Distracted Driving
The No. 1 cause of car accidents is distracted driving, something that becomes a larger threat every year. When drivers engage in any type of distracting activity, from looking at their phones to reaching for objects, they more than double their risk of crashing. Driving when highly emotional is a distraction that has the same effect.While you may not be able to reduce your risk of being impacted by someone else who is driving while distracted, you can significantly decrease your risk of causing an accident by paying attention to the road. That means no calls or texting, no crying, applying makeup, or anything else other than driving.
Drunk Driving
It should go without saying that driving after having anything alcoholic to drink is a firm "no." Alcohol reduces brain functioning, impairing the ability to reason and make quick decisions - even just a small amount can affect driving ability. Drunk driving continues to be one of the leading causes of accidents in the country and the most deadly. After drinking, call an Uber, take a taxi or let a sober friend drive.Speeding
There's a reason for speed limits - speeding is another one of the most common causes of car accidents. While it can be tempting to speed when you're running late, if you get in an accident, you may never make it to where you're going. Resist the urge and stay safe by keeping within the legal speed limits.Weather
While we can't control the weather, whenever possible, avoid driving in poor conditions as it can cause a serious car accident, whether it's snow, ice, rain, or fog. Especially when conditions are severe, they can significantly lower the range of sight, making it difficult or even impossible to see the road. Heavy rain makes for treacherous, slippery road conditions so, if you're caught in a downpour, and the pavement seems slick, or you're experiencing visibility issues, pull over and wait until the storm passes.Tailgating
Tailgating is one of the most dangerous driving habits - there's never an excuse to get too close to the car in front of you, no matter how frustrated you get at how slow they're going. Despite the danger, many people become impatient because they're running late or do it out of road rage, but following too closely puts you at significant risk for an accident. Keep a safe distance to allow for time to react in case the driver ahead of you suddenly stops.
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