With 3 million people
in the US injured in car accidents every year, it’s unfortunately all too common.
Many people die in car accidents every year, and even more suffer long-term injuries. Although it’s important to know what to do if you get in a car accident, it’s also important to be preventative.
Better to never be in a crash than have to deal with the aftermath, after all.
By knowing the top causes of car accidents, you can mitigate the risk of being in one. Be aware of why cars crash and people end up injured or even dead, and you can make sure it doesn’t ever happen to you.
Causes Due to Human Error
Many times, the causes of car accidents are down to human error. People can make mistakes that lead to them crashing and hurting themselves or others.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a big cause of car crashes, but it doesn’t stop people from doing it.
They might be trying to set a location on their maps app to get directions or change the song that’s playing. Worse, they might be trying to text a friend while focusing on the road.
It’s important to ensure the GPS location is set before you take off, and you should never use your phone while driving.
Reckless Driving
One of the causes of car crashes that’s entirely preventable is reckless driving. Reckless driving can include speeding, changing lanes without indicating, or not following road signs.
This is why it’s extremely important to be patient on the road.
Under the Influence
One of the most dangerous leading causes of car accidents is driving under the influence of something that can impede judgment. There is a death every 50 minutes in the US that involves a drunk driver, so this is sadly common.
Tailgating
Tailgating is the act of following another car too closely, which doesn’t give the driver any time to break should they come to an abrupt stop. There should always be a safe gap between cars, as this is an unfortunate cause of many rear collisions.
Causes Due to Other Factors
Not all car accident causes are down to a negligent driver. Some have external factors that cause bad accidents.
Faults With the Car
Sometimes there’s a fault with the car — for example, the brakes not working correctly. It’s important to keep up with your car and get it checked over regularly to minimize the chance of this happening.
Cars are machines, and things can go wrong.
The Weather
It can be difficult to drive in rain, ice, or snow. Always be aware that the stopping distance will be much longer, and the road can be slippery in these conditions.
Bad weather is one of the major leading causes of car accidents, and sometimes it’s best to avoid driving at all in it.
Know the Top Causes of Car Accidents So You Can Avoid Them
It’s important to know what to do if you’re ever in a crash, but equally important to know the top causes of car accidents so you can mitigate the risk of being in one.
By being aware of what causes crashes, you can be extra conscious about risk factors on the road.
For more driving tips and road safety, check out the rest of our blog!