How Do Car Accidents Happen?
4/6/2016 Car Accidents John Whitfield
According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, there were 960 car accident fatalities last year with thousands more injured. With millions of people getting behind the wheel each year, the best way to prevent a car accident is to understand how car accidents happen.
Top Causes of Car Accidents:
- Distracted driving accounts for nearly 20% of all car accidents. While the most common distraction while driving is cell phone use, anything that takes the driver’s hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, or mind off the task of driving is a distraction and a potential danger. Eating, grooming, talking to a passenger, or even changing the radio station can cause accidents.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs accounts for over 30% of all traffic fatalities in the US. Drunk drivers have significantly slower reaction times, making them a danger not only to themselves, but also to other motorists.
- Failure to stay in the proper lane was the most dangerous driving behavior that caused fatal car accidents in Tennessee from 2009 to 2013. Since many of these types of accidents result in head-on collisions, failing to stay in the proper lane can cause devastating accidents involving several vehicles.
- Reckless driving, including speeding, is a major traffic violation that is punishable by fines, imprisonment, or license suspension. Under Tennessee law, reckless driving is any person who willfully or wantonly drives a vehicle with disregard for the safety of other persons or property.
- Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous driving under the influence. When a driver becomes fatigued, they have decreased reaction times and are at a risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.
- Poor road conditions like rain, sleet, and snow can easily cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. When the road conditions are less than ideal, drivers need to exert more caution to decrease the likelihood of an accident.
- Defective auto products can also pose an increased risk of car accidents. From faulty ignition switches to exploding airbags, a defective part can cause a driver, passenger, or other motorists in the vicinity serious injury.
Many car accidents are preventable with the implementation of safe driving behaviors. The next time your cell phone rings while driving, remember that answering it puts your life, and the lives of other motorists, at risk. So the next time you get behind the wheel, commit to driving safely.
Nashville Car Accident Attorneys
It’s a driver’s responsibility to always be in control of their vehicle and drive safely, but for a variety of reasons, drivers don’t always do so. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, the experienced car accident attorneys at the Nashville office of Whitfield, Bryson & Mason can help. Call us today for a free consultation.