Studies show that the major causes of car accidents include vehicles, drivers, as well as environmental and unknown factors. But, the majority of car crashes result from negligence. This means the driver failed to take responsible care to avoid hitting other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The following are the most common causes of negligent driving accidents:
Distracted Driving
Making phone calls, texting, eating and drinking, or chatting with passengers while driving is a form of distracted driving. There are many possible distractions behind the wheel that could be fatal. When a driver is distracted, they may not be able to see other road users or a roadway signal to stop until it is already too late to prevent a car accident. It is the responsibility of every driver to pay attention to their surroundings.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents in Missouri every year. It can have devastating effects on the victims. If you are a victim of a drunk driver, you should contact a jefferson city mo car accident attorney to bring an insurance claim for compensation against the at-fault driver. This is possible even if that driver is also facing criminal charges for drunk driving.
Speeding
Speeding can occur when a driver is driving faster than the posted speed limit or when driving too fast for conditions such as broken pavement, bad weather, darkness, or traffic congestion. A speeding driver can cause a serious accident that may leave the victim sustaining serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury, crush injuries, or a spinal cord injury.
Defective Parts
A vehicle with a defective part or design can cause an accident or make injuries worse than they would have been. Unfortunately, the driver may not be aware of this defect until they have caused an accident. When a car crash is found to be due to a defective vehicle part, the manufacturer or designer of the part may be held accountable.
Issues with Roadway Maintenance
Car accidents can also happen because of broken pavement and missing or broken guardrails. They are common in busy intersections that don’t have sufficient lights and signals to control traffic.
