What Are The Top Causes of Car Accidents?

It’s practically a rite of passage, and usually “the other guy’s fault.” Whether you’ve seen a wreck happen or had a fender-bender of your own, there’s no denying that car crashes result in serious injuries and fatalities every year. Traffic accidents are the primary cause of injury in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with almost 7,000 people each day going to the emergency room with injuries from motor vehicle crashes. To make matters worse, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) reports that there were approximately 40,990 fatalities from motor vehicle collisions in 2023.

If you have been hurt in a traffic accident, or have lost someone you love in such an accident, it is important to contact an experienced car accident lawyer. The Mann Law Firm can help by reviewing your circumstances and discussing all available legal options. Call us at (478) 742-3381 or fill out our online form. We would like to meet with you to discuss your case, and we are proud to offer free initial consultations.

Top Causes of Car Accidents

The most common causes of car accidents are:

• Distracted Driving – Whether texting, talking on the phone, programming a GPS, eating, talking to passengers or adjusting the music, anything that diverts a driver’s attention away from the road can mean trouble. The value of having one’s hands on the wheel and eyes on the road is maximized when the brain is fully engaged. A recent survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that one-third of drivers said that they often engage in risky behavior while driving, even though they have a loved one who was killed or seriously hurt in a crash. These drivers believe their actions are unacceptable, yet they refuse to change their habits.
• Driving Under The Influence – Certainly driving under the influence of alcohol is a problem across the country. The FBI estimates that almost 300,000 incidents of drunk driving occur every day, but fewer than 4,000 people are actually arrested. There were 13,524 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities nationwide in 2022. Even just getting buzzed by consuming a few drinks is enough to affect one’s driving, because alcohol is a depressant that slows reaction time, makes it harder to focus, and reduces ability to properly judge situations. Report also say that deaths from drunk driving and from speeding are more prevalent in rural areas than urban ones.
• Aggressive Driving – A driver who drives aggressively, either through speeding or weaving in and out of traffic, can easily cause a car accident. Those who drive aggressively put other drivers as well as pedestrians at risk of injury.
• Running Stop Signs and Traffic Lights – A driver who runs a stop sign or a traffic light can also cause a car accident.  Drivers need to pay attention behind the wheel and obey all traffic signs and laws.
• Weather – Any type of hazardous road condition can make it harder to maneuver the vehicle. When driving during harsh weather conditions, make sure to anticipate what is ahead of you.  Even if you are being careful, other drivers may not be.
• Staying In the Correct Lane –  Failing to stay in the correct lane was the most deadly driving behavior in more than 30 states, including Georgia. If such an incident has affected your family, consulting with a wrongful death lawyer can provide guidance

What To Do If You Are In A Car Accident

The minutes immediately after a car accident can be fraught with anxiety and horror.  Filing a personal injury claim might be the furthest thing from your mind. However, to preserve evidence, there are a few steps to take after you have called 911 and received medical attention for your injuries.  Those steps are:

• Document The Scene – Take as many pictures and videos as possible of the scene, including your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, and the area surrounding the car accident.
• Collect Contact Information – Obtain contact information from any witnesses of the car accident. Your car accident lawyer may need to speak with them about what they witnessed.
• Keep Organized Records – Save any bills you received from all of your medical appointments. Keep a running tab of every out-of-pocket expense, including trips to follow-up appointments and prescription costs.
• Stay off of Social Media – The insurance companies are in business to make money, which means paying out as little as possible for accident claims.  They will go to any lengths to deny a claim. If you claim to be injured but post a picture or video on social media that shows you participating in a sporting event or carrying something heavy, it can be used against you on your personal injury claim.

Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers at Mann Law For Assistance With Your Claim

If you were injured or lost a loved one due to someone’s failure to drive alert or sober, the Mann Law Firm can help. We aggressively seek full and fair compensation for our clients, and are always willing to take a case to trial if necessary. The compensation available in a car crash claim may include payment of medical bills, compensation for lost wages and future lost income, compensation for pain and suffering, and for emotional distress. If you lost a loved one, you could be entitled to compensation in a wrongful death claim.

We have been successfully litigating personal injury cases across Georgia for over 50 years. Our job is to examine the circumstances of what caused the accident while focusing on our client’s future. With our experience, we know how to seek compensation from all possible sources, and we will carefully calculate your past, current and future losses to get you the best possible recovery. While we cannot guarantee the outcome of any case, we can promise to listen, to advise, and to deliver unwavering legal advocacy on your behalf. Contact us at (478) 742-3381  or use our convenient online contact form. Let us help you.