The number of car accidents that take place in California and all around the country has been on a steady rise. In order to prevent or reduce the rising number of car accidents it is necessary to first take a look at the common causes of a car accident. The majority of car accidents in California are caused due to reckless behavior such as driving under the influence, speeding and distracted driving. Hundreds of thousands of car accidents occur in California annually. In 2013 alone, over 150,000 crashes caused injuries and 2,800 crashes were fatal throughout the state, according to statistics issued by the California Highway Patrol.Reckless or negligent behaviors on the part of motorists contributes to the majority of these accidents. It’s critical for drivers to understand and avoid or prevent the following leading causes of car accidents from occurring:
- Failure to control speed
- Driver inattention
- Failure to drive in single lane
- Failure to yield while turning left
- Unsafe lane change
- Following too closely
- Improper evasive action
- Failure to yield at stop sign
- Speeding, under limit
- Disregard of stop sign or light
- Failure to yield in private drive
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
However it is safe to say that in some collisions none of these factors or multiple contributing factors have been indicated. The number of collisions by contributing factor does not add up to the number of traffic accidents. In addition to the causes enlisted above there are many other causes of car accidents. Most of them stem from driver negligence while others may be circumstances beyond a driver’s control.
Some of these additional causes include:
- Cell phone use
- Defective headlights, brake lights, tail lights or turn signals
- Defective steering, tires or trailer hitch
- Disregard of construction warning signs
- Disregard of stop and go signal
- Disregard of turn marks at intersection
- Distraction in vehicle
- Drinking and driving
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way road
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Driving without headlights
- Failure to signal
- Failure to yield to emergency vehicle
- Failure to yield to pedestrian
- Fatigued or asleep driver
- Fleeing or evading police
- Handicapped driver
- Ill driver
- Impaired visibility
- Improper passing
- Improper turn
- Load not secured
- Parked in traffic lane
- Road rage
- Speeding over the limit
- Taking medication
- Unsafe backing/reversing
- Unsafe passing
- Vehicle fire
It is quite easy to discern that speeding and driving while distracted are the two most common contributing factors to car accidents in California. Excessive speed limits maneuverability and reduces the reaction time that a driver has to respond in an emergency situation or a sudden change in traffic. It also increases the severity of a collision by creating a greater force of impact. Driving while distracted greatly enhances the risk of an accident as the attention of the drive is not fully on the task at hand. If you were injured in a car accident, it will be necessary to determine what caused your collision in proving your auto accident lawsuit against the negligent or at fault party. An Auto Accidents Attorney in San Antonio, TX can be the most reliable source to prove your claim and get the damages that you deserve.