Top Causes of Car Accidents in the United States
Car accidents are the number one cause of preventable deaths in the United States. They are responsible for 35,000 fatalities annually and are the number one cause of death for teenagers in America according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hundreds of thousands of others suffer personal injuries in the approximately 10 million car accidents that occur each year.
Having knowledge of the leading cause of car accidents may allow drivers to alter their behavior and prevent an accident.
What is the leading cause of car accidents in the United States?
Here are the top three leading causes of auto accidents in the United States and they all come down to personal responsibility and choices.
- Distracted driving
We are in the age of multi-tasking, a rush to get things done faster and an obsession with constant and instant communication through our cell phones. As a consequence, distracted driving is the most common cause of car accidents in America. Even drivers who think they are being responsible by using a hands free system are four times as likely as a driver not speaking on a phone to be involved in a car accident. The statistics on texting and driving are even more scary; drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash while texting. The most important thing that you can do to reduce your risk of a car accident is to put your phone away and focus on the road and the drivers around you.
- Speeding and reckless driving
Our way of life has sped up considerably in the last couple of generations; we are more scheduled and hurried than ever before. In addition, more and more of the population is centered in large metropolitan areas and this migration means more congestion on roads and highways. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, speeding is a factor in about one third of all car accidents in the United States. Slow down and allow plenty of time to reach your destination; plan around heavy traffic times. If you find yourself feeling overly frustrated with another driver or the object of another driver’s frustration; pull over and let him pass.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
After years of public education, we are all aware of the dangers of driving while intoxicated and yet, according to the CDC, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-related car crashes in 2014 alone. This accounted for almost one-third (31 percent) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States that year. Nineteen percent of the traffic related deaths among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2014 involved an alcohol-impaired driver. In addition, drugs other than alcohol are involved in about 16 percent of all car accidents. Always assign a designated driver when going to an event with alcohol, stay the night, walk or take a taxi home. Do not let your friends or family members drive home after they have been drinking.
If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident, contact a car accident lawyer today. The attorney may be able to help you receive the settlement that you deserve!
Seek the help of a Bellingham car accident attorney
If you or a loved one is dealing with an accident or injury, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for justice and the compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
