1. Distracted driving: Taking your eyes off the road, even for a split second, can result in a serious accident. Common distractions include talking or texting on your phone, fiddling with the radio, eating or drinking, and dealing with children or pets in the car.
2. Speeding: Speed limits are in place for a reason – to keep drivers and pedestrians safe. When drivers exceed the posted limit, they not only put themselves at risk but also everyone else on the road.
3. Drunk driving: drunk drivers pose a serious threat to themselves and others on the road. If you’ve been drinking, hand over the keys to a sober friend or call a cab – it’s not worth the risk.
4. Reckless driving: weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, making sudden lane changes – all of these constitute as reckless driving and increase your chances of getting into an accident.
5. Road rage: We’ve all been there – someone cuts us off in traffic or doesn’t signal when they change lanes and we get angry. But it’s important to remember that road rage can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation. If you find yourself getting angry behind the wheel, take a deep breath and try to calm down.
6. Weather conditions: Rain, snow, ice, fog – all of these can make driving conditions more difficult and lead to accidents. If the weather is bad, slow down and give yourself extra time to reach your destination.
7. Poorly maintained vehicle: Making sure your car is in good working order is important for safety. If you notice any problems with your brakes, tires, or lights, get them fixed as soon as possible.
8. Driving while fatigued: Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. If you’re feeling sleepy behind the wheel, pull over and take a nap or switch drivers.
9. Running red lights: It’s tempting to try and beat a yellow light, but it’s not worth the risk of running a red light and causing an accident. Always come to a complete stop at red lights and yield to oncoming traffic before proceeding.
10. Making illegal turns: Turning without signaling or cutting off other drivers while turning can lead to accidents. Always use your turn signal and be aware of other cars around you when making any type of turn.
11. Distracted walking: Just as distracted driving can be dangerous, so can distracted walking. If you’re walking, put away your phone and pay attention to your surroundings.
12. Jaywalking: Jaywalking is when you cross the street outside of a crosswalk or in an area where there is no crosswalk. This is extremely dangerous and often leads to accidents. Always use a crosswalk when crossing the street and look both ways before doing so.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, contact a Clearwater personal injury attorney at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk today for a free consultation. Our experienced car accident attorney clearwater can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Inexperienced Drivers
Driver inexperience is a common cause of accidents. Insurance companies charge higher premiums for young drivers because of the higher accident rate associated with inexperience. Driver inexperience can lead to poor decision-making, misjudging the speed or distance of vehicles, or overestimating the driver’s or vehicle’s capabilities.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is characterized by aggressive or dangerous driving behaviors. This might include speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, making sudden lane changes, or running red lights. Reckless driving puts the driver and others on the road at risk of an accident.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the task of driving. Common distractions include talking or texting on a cell phone, fiddling with the radio, eating or drinking, and dealing with children or pets in the car. Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol impaired drivers’ abilities to drive safely. Driving while impaired increases the risk of being involved in an accident.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common factors in accidents. speeding makes it difficult to stop or maneuver the vehicle, and it also increases the force of impact in an accident.
Poor Road Conditions
Poor road conditions can lead to accidents. Potholes, debris, construction, and bad weather can all make driving more dangerous. It’s important to be aware of these potential hazards and drive accordingly.
Fatigued Driving
Driving while fatigued is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times and are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. If you’re feeling sleepy while driving, pull over and take a nap or switch drivers.
Running Red Lights
Running red lights is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. It’s tempting to try and beat a yellow light, but it’s not worth the risk of running a red light and causing an accident. Always come to a complete stop at red lights and yield to oncoming traffic before proceeding.
Making Illegal Turns
Making illegal turns is another common cause of accidents. Turning without signaling or cutting off other drivers while turning can lead to accidents. Always use your turn signal and be aware of other cars around you when making any type of turn.
Distracted Walking
Just as distracted driving can be dangerous, so can distracted walking. If you’re walking, put away your phone and pay attention to your surroundings.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving doesn’t account for a very large percentage of car accidents causes in Clearwater. According to the Florida Traffic Safety Dashboard, distracted drivers caused only 7.3% of Clearwater accidents that caused an injury or fatality.
While the percentage of accidents caused by distracted driving is relatively low, it’s still important to be aware of the dangers of distracted driving and to avoid any distractions while behind the wheel.
The above are the 12 most common causes of car accidents. If you have been involved in an accident, contact the Injury lawyer Clearwater at the Tragos Law Firm today for a free consultation. Their experienced accident lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve.