No one has ever enjoyed getting into a car accident.
No matter what has caused the accident or why it has happened, motor vehicle accidents can be stressful, overwhelming, and painful experiences.
Whether minor or severe, traffic crashes can completely change the auto accident victim's life.
They often result in property damage, vehicle damage, physical injuries, a loss of wages, and even permanent disabilities or a traffic fatality.
Want to learn more about the potential problems associated with not treating physical injuries after a car accident? Read our blog post: "The Dangers of Untreated Car Accident Injuries | Untreated Risks."
Not all car accidents are avoidable, but knowing what does cause car accidents can help you improve your road safety and reduce your risk of accidents.
Some causes of car accidents are more common than others, and we will go over a few of the most common ones our car accident doctors deal with in the article below.
Table of Contents
- Accidents By The Numbers
- Distracted Driving
- Drunk Driving
- Speeding
- Reckless Driving
- Inclement Weather
- Driver Fatigue
- Car Wreck Doctor
Accidents By The Numbers
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), police report more than 6.5 million crashes each year.
That translates to about 2.7 million accident injuries and more than 36,000 deaths.
The CDC has reported that auto accidents cost more than $75 billion each year, and that's not counting the physical and emotional suffering the collisions cause victims and their families.
Figuring out exactly what causes these collisions may seem like an impossible task.
However, data scientists spend a significant amount of time analyzing data that can help paint a picture of what causes so many accidents.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is, without a doubt, the number one cause of car accidents across the country.
A distracted driver is anyone who doesn't have their full attention on the road ahead of them.
They might be texting on their cell phone, doing their make-up, or simply changing the radio station.
Teen drivers and inexperienced drivers tend to be more easily distracted.
No matter what they are doing, their reaction times are significantly slower when their full attention isn't on the road, making them more susceptible to being involved in an accident.
Your only job when you are behind the wheel is to get where you are going safely.
Everything else can wait until you arrive at your destination.
Drunk Driving
Driving while you're drunk or under the influence of drugs is extremely dangerous and should always be avoided. Intoxicated drivers pose a significant risk to even the most experienced drivers.
Intoxicated driving accidents are significant and 100% avoidable by simply not drinking and driving.
And even though alcohol-related accidents may not be the most common type of car accident, drunk driving is the cause of most fatal car accidents.
No one should ever get behind the wheel of a car if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Driving under the influence is reckless driving in its purest form and should never be done.
Speeding
Speeding and aggressive driving go hand in hand, and they are both major causes of traffic accidents, probably because they are so prevalent.
Studies show that a full two-thirds of vehicles traveling on highways, city streets, country roads, and everywhere in between drive above the speed limit.
For some driver's it's just a bad habit. For others, they are running late for work, and others drive aggressively due to heightened emotions.
And some do it for the thrill, resulting in 100% avoidable high-speed crashes.
Unfortunately, speeding and speed-related accidents put others' lives at risk as well.
Speeding and aggressive driving behavior vastly increase the chance of road accidents because the driver in a speeding vehicle has less time to react to road hazards or traffic control devices.
A speeding vehicle will need more distance to come to a complete stop.
Speeding also makes your vehicle more susceptible to losing control in adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or ice.
A safe driving practice is to try your best to drive a couple miles per hour under the posted speed limit.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving leads to many needless car accidents.
Reckless drivers who speed, perform unsafe lane changes, or tailgate often end up in unnecessary motor vehicle crashes.
Reckless drivers are often impatient in traffic, so if you notice a reckless driver, pay extra attention and be sure to take extra care around them.
Poor Weather Conditions
Bad weather like rain, snow, and ice make driving much more dangerous.
Poor road conditions like icy roads greatly increase your odds of being in a car accident.
Water, snow, and ice create slick roadways and cause cars to slip and slide without warning.
If you can avoid it, don't drive in nasty weather.
If you get caught in a storm, be sure to drive extra carefully.
Even if you are confident in your ability to drive in bad weather, it's never worth the risk.
Driver Fatigue
Drowsy driving is a major cause of accidents for adult drivers, teenage drivers, and commercial drivers, and it likely goes under-reported as a cause of crashes.
Driver inattention due to fatigue is a prominent cause of wrecks, but it is often classified in police reports as a separate and distinct contributing factor from driver fatigue.
The first thing you can do to avoid drowsy driving is to get enough sleep.
It would be best if you also tried to avoid driving at the end of a long day and schedule long road trips to begin soon after waking up to prevent drowsiness from taking over mid-trip.
Car Wreck Doctor
No matter what caused your accident, whether it was driver distraction, aggressive drivers, drunk drivers, or any of the other causes listed above, it's in your best interest to visit a car accident doctor right away.
Car Wreck Doctor has a mission to connect accident victims with a professional Medical Doctor or Chiropractor that can help them after any crash, no matter what the cause was.
They will also refer you to a personal injury attorney who can help you with your insurance company and win your injury claim.
Car Wreck doctor will help you through the entire process to focus on recovering from your injuries.
We go through an elaborate vetting process with each doctor and accident lawyer to whom we attach our name.
Car Wreck Doctor will find professionals who will help you recover after having suffered an injury due to a motor vehicle accident.
Contact Car Wreck Doctor today by clicking the button below.
