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10 COMMON CAUSES OF
Vehicle Crashes

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Vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of unintentional injury and
death. Thousands of crashes happen every day, and most people will experience
one at some point in their lives. The outcome of crashes ranges from minor to
fatal and covers all points in between. Just as the severity of a crash can vary
from one accident to another, so too can the causes of the wrecks.
No two crashes are the same, and a single crash can have several contributing
factors. However, there are definitely some commonalities that we can find in
most vehicle accidents. If we look at the statistics, we’ll find the same culprits
behind the vast majority of car crashes. By knowing the most common causes of
crashes, we might also avoid them altogether.
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Speeding – Approximately one-third of fatal crashes involve a speeding vehicle,
according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many people think of
speeding as exceeding a speed limit, but it’s important to remember that speeding also
involves traveling too fast for the conditions of the road. If weather is poor or traffic is
heavy, drivers must adjust their speed accordingly.
Impairment – The number of fatal crashes caused by drunk driving is on par with
those caused by speeding. Around one-third of all traffic deaths involve a drunk driver,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol is not the only
substance that causes crashes. Some research suggests that drug impairment is
beginning to rival alcohol intoxication as a cause of traffic deaths.
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Fatigue – Every year, approximately 328,000 crashes are caused by
fatigued drivers, according to AAA. Drowsy driving also contributes to more
than 6,000 crashes annually. Missing just one to two hours of sleep a night
can double a person’s risk of being involved in a vehicle accident.
Distraction – Distracted driving has become a major focus of safety
advocates in recent years, due in large part to the emergence of mobile
devices in everyday life. The CDC estimates that 9 people are killed and
1,000 people are injured in distraction-related vehicle crashes every day in
the United States.
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Vehicle Defects – Data concerning the rate of crashes caused by vehicle defects is
more difficult to pin down than other human-related contributing factors. However, we
can gain some insights from a crash causation study by the NHTSA. In that study,
NHTSA finds that approximately 44,000 crashes every year can be attributed to vehicles
and not to drivers. Of those crashes, tires and brakes are leading factors contributing to
the accidents.
Running a Red Light – The urge to beat the red light is often a fatal one for
motorists. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said that, in 2015, 771 people
were killed and an estimated 137,000 were injured in crashes that involved running a
red light. Running red lights, along with ignoring other traffic signs and signals,
accounts for a large percentage of urban vehicle accidents.
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Aggressive Driving – In a study conducted by AAA, researchers found
that over half of fatal crashes involved some form of aggression by a
driver. Aggressive driving can take many different forms, including
tailgating (following another vehicle too closely), cutting off another
driver or running another vehicle off the road.
Bad Weather – The NHTSA estimates that around 52,000 crashes are
caused primarily by weather conditions every year in the United States.
Around half of those crashes involved a slick road. While bad weather
might contribute to those crashes, drivers can greatly reduce the chances
of causing a wreck by adjusting their driving habits to reflect the weather.
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Animals/wildlife – AAA estimates that between 2001 and 2011, over 2,000 traffic
deaths resulted from collisions with animals. Many animal-related crashes are
avoidable, and drivers should be aware that the danger of these crashes increases during
fall and winter.
Inexperienced drivers – One of the greatest threats facing motorists is something we
all encounter as drivers. A lack of experience means that a driver is less equipped to
handle emergencies or to be more careless behind the wheel. Inexperience as a cause of
crashes is best understood through the statistics on teen drivers. Teens ages 15 to 19
make up 7 percent of the population in the United States, yet they account for 11 percent
of total costs of motor vehicle injuries, according to the CDC. Alarmingly, newly licensed
drivers ages 16 and 17 are approximately three times more likely to be involved in a
deadly automobile crash.
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There is plenty of room for overlap in this list. For
example, a drunk driver might also run a red light.
Or a distracted driver might be less likely to notice
an animal darting in front their vehicle. This is part
of the reason that no two crashes are identical in
their root causes.
However, one of the themes you’ve likely noticed
from this list is that most crashes are caused by
human error. Safety advocates believe that over 90
percent of crashes are caused by mistakes. Even
when external factors play a role, e.g., bad weather,
the crashes could often have been avoided if the
driver had acted with greater caution.
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If we understand the risks facing motorists and
increase our awareness of the bad tendencies we
might have when behind the wheel, we just might
avoid being involved in a serious vehicle accident.
Unfortunately, we can’t control the actions of other
drivers.
For people that have been injured in a vehicle
accident and are considering filing a personal injury
claim, it’s important to understand that the burden
is not on the victim to figure out the reasons for the
other driver's negligence. An experienced vehicle
accident attorney will investigate the potential
causes on behalf of their client.
Call us today at 404.593.2695 or 678-RESULTS.

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If you or a loved one has been involved
in a serious vehicle accident in Georgia
and you want to learn more about your
legal options, contact the Stoddard
Firm today. We represent clients
across the state to make sure they get
the compensation they deserve.
Contact us online or call
404.593.2695 or 678-RESULTS.
thestoddardfirm.com