Causes of Car Accidents
There are a wide variety of causes of car accidents. Some of the most common include:
Driver Error – The most common cause of car accidents is driver error. Common errors include failure to yield the right of way, following too closely, driving at excessive speeds, unsafe passing, and disregard of traffic control devices.
Distractions – When the driver’s attention becomes diverted from the road, the chances of an accident increase. Distractions may occur from outside of the car, such as when something at the side of the road draws a driver’s attention. Distractions also occur inside cars, such as where the driver attempts to eat, read or put on makeup while driving, change CD’s or other musical devices, use a cellular phone, or attempts to deal with an upset or unruly child.
Intoxication – Motorists whose ability to drive is impaired as a result of the consumption of alcohol or drugs are more likely to cause car accidents.
Bad Weather – Sometimes, bad weather conditions will contribute to an accident by interfering with visibility, reduced traction on the road surface, or otherwise making it more difficult to drive a car. A driver should always take the effects of the weather, such as strong cross-winds, slippery roads, or even bright sunlight, into consideration when driving. Weather often creates unexpected hazards, such as black ice or flash flooding, which may not be detected by a driver until it is too late to avoid the hazard.
Road Design or Conditions – A poorly designed roadway, intersection, or means of controlling traffic can at times cause or contribute to an accident. Poorly placed and poorly designed road signs or barriers can cause unnecessary injury when vehicles collide with them. In some instances, such defects may result in liability by the governmental agency responsible for the design and maintenance of the roadway, although governmental immunity may apply. In addition to the above, roadway conditions may also be affected by the presence of objects or debris.
Vehicle Defects – At times an accident will result from a defect with a driver’s vehicle, such as a tire blowout, brake failure, and sometimes by a design or manufacturing defect. A common example is a design defect which makes an SUV more susceptible to rolling over or a gas tank more likely to ignite in a collision.
Problem Areas
Hit-and-Run Accidents: Where the driver who causes an accident fails to stop at the accident scene, it may be difficult for the victim of the accident to later identify the at-fault driver so as to bring a lawsuit.
Car-Pedestrian Accidents: Where a motor vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the pedestrian will often suffer catastrophic injury. Unfortunately, pedestrians often have difficulty making claims against drivers, as the accidents are frequently attributed to the conduct of the pedestrian.
Car-Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcycle drivers are susceptible to serious injury, even in collisions which would be relatively minor had they occurred between cars.
Car-Bicycle Accidents: Bicyclists are vulnerable to serious injury when hit by cars, and are also susceptible to having drivers open car doors in front of them - a hazard which can cause them to be catapulted over the car door in a collision. Drivers often report that they did not see the bicyclist until after the collision, or that they misjudged the bicyclist’s speed. Some bicyclists engage in very hazardous actions, such as ignoring traffic signals or riding on the wrong side of the road, making an accident much more likely. The most severe and lasting injuries to bicyclists tend to be head injuries, so helmet use is encouraged. In fact, the Massachusetts Legislature has recently enacted new legislation to make the roads safer for Bay State bicyclists.
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