Most Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Louisiana

Most Common Causes Of Auto Accidents In Louisiana

On average, it is estimated that there are over 6 million car accidents in the United States every year. These accidents can have devastating effects on individuals or families that are involved in these tragic events.

Although some of the injuries or damages incurred in accidents are minor, some are life-altering. Some of the damages include but are not limited to property damage, whether to the car itself or other properties; mental and physical injuries to all involved parties, including trauma, discomfort, minor scrapes, broken bones, temporary or permanent disabilities, or even death.

In an effort to prevent car accidents, it is vital to be aware of the common causes of car accidents. By raising awareness for these causes, a sound motorist might be influenced to take preventative measures and precautions while driving.

The most common causes of car accidents in the United States can be categorized into two different types: accidents that are due to driver error and those unrelated to human error.

Car Accidents Caused By Driver Error

Some of the common causes of car accidents are attributed to driver error. This category of accidents applicable to the majority of car accidents. These type of errors include, but not limited to:

Distracted Driver

It is expected that the driver’s attention while driving should be solely focused on the road. However, distractions for the driver are readily available and often accepted by people now-a-days.

After all, driver distractions can arise even with the slightest interference from readily available sources. Some of these distractions can be from the radio, another person talking to the driver, whether in person or through the phone, a crying child in the back seat, something on the road that caught the driver’s attention, or even while looking for directions.

By switching brain attention from one task or source to another, the driver’s attention is consistently being shifted, and thus, cause distraction than focusing on the road ahead.

Drunk Driving Or Driving Under The Influence

Somewhat related to the topic above, drinking or being under the influence of drugs while driving can dramatically affect the driver’s ability to control the vehicle and competently respond and react to the condition of the road.

Aggressive And Reckless Driving

Aggressive or reckless driving is the type of driving that may or may not violate traffic rules but definitely puts motorists and innocent pedestrian’s life in danger. Some examples of aggressive or reckless driving may include, speeding, failing to stop on red lights or stop signs, switching lanes too quickly, failing to adhere to the right of way for others, driving too close to other vehicles, or even purposely failing to follow cautionary measures set by traffic law.

Health Reasons

Another tragic cause of a car accident is when a driver gets into a health issue while driving. Some of these health issues can be a heart attack, panic attack, or other similar occurrences. These serious health issues may cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident.

Fatigue

Another factor that can affect a driver’s inability to be in control of their vehicle and aware of their driving conditions is fatigue.

Fatigue is attributed to the driver’s sleepiness, drowsiness, or extreme exhaustion. These can either be perfectly innocent or induced from medication or other elements. Nonetheless, the driver must be aware of their physical condition before and while driving in order to properly assess if they are fit to be on the road.

Car Accidents Caused By Other Factors

Some of the common causes of car accidents that can be attributed to other factors outside of the driver’s control or error include:

Weather Conditions

Even a slight change in weather can cause severe effects on road conditions, including slippery roads from rain, snow, or ice that can cause loss of traction in tires. Moreover, water/flood levels, fog, and winds may adversely affect driving conditions that can cause car accidents.

Road Conditions

Some of the road conditions include: potholes, uneven roads, or even trash in the road can all cause severe motorists’ driving conditions and can lead to a car accident.

Moreover, technical issues with street lights and traffic lights can contribute to poor road conditions and lead to car accidents.

Vehicle Defects

As technology advances, cars get more innovative. However, even with advanced technology, car defects can still occur. After all, a car consists of hundreds of parts that needs to coordinate in a precise manner to function safely. However, a defect in one single part may cause the vehicle to malfunction and lead to an accident.

Therefore, it is very important to keep one’s vehicle in good driving condition. This could mean keeping up with the maintenance of the vehicle, along with compliance with any manufacturer recalls or issues. Although car issues can occur with or without warning, it is important to be on top of possible issues that the car may be experiencing in order to prevent an accident.

As one can discern from the list above, car accidents can occur due to so many different factors that may or may not be within the driver’s control. Nonetheless, it is crucial to practice defensive driving to avoid car accidents in the first place.

Getting into an accident is a tragic event that requires not only medical attention but also legal attention. You need an experienced personal injury attorney to defend your rights and ensure that your interests are put forth in your claims. If you need the assistance and representation of an experienced personal injury attorney, please feel free to give us a call (225) 963-9638, or you can click here to contact us about a free consultation.