More than six million accidents occur in the United States annually. The most common accidents include slips and falls, and car accidents. If you or a family member has been involved in a car accident, contact an accident lawyer.
Causes of Car Accidents:
- Rear-End Collision. These accidents happen when the car behind collides with the rear of the vehicle in front of them, this is usually due to a distraction. They are usually accidents of mild to medium severity.
- Red-light Running. These accidents occur because the motorists do not accurately calculate the time to prepare for stopping and/or assume that increasing the speed of the vehicle will allow enough time before the traffic light changes to red. Other reasons leading to red-light running accidents are a distraction or assuming that the road is clear and turning on a red light.
- Wrong-Way. Driving on the opposite side of the road due to distraction, to “save time”, or shorten distances.
- Speeding. Driving over the speed limit and consequently losing control of the vehicle due to unexpected factors, causing a collision, run over, or material damage.
- Drug and alcohol use. The consumption of drugs and alcohol while driving is extremely risky; impaired driving is dangerous and can cause serious accidents.
- Advanced age. In some cases, elderly drivers may be unable to quickly react to an unexpected event, causing accidents; some factors can be slow reflexes, impaired vision, or distractions.
- Improper Passing. Some drivers recklessly pass other cars on the right lane or at a curve, when there is limited forward visibility causing accidents.
- Bad Weather. Driving in bad weather conditions may cause accidents such as heavy snow, sandstorm, rain, and fog as well as wet and icy roads.
- Use of cell phones. The use of cell phones while driving, either in a call or a text message, makes drivers lose focus on the task at hand or not pay attention to their surroundings causing an accident.
Aggressive driver behaviors that can lead to an accident
There are many easily identifiable aggressive driving behaviors, below is a list of some of the most common ones.
- Pass on the right. In many states it is illegal to pass on the right lane, the correct and safe thing to do is to pass on the left side.
- Lights. Aggressive driving behavior is often to dazzle other drivers with high beams or continuously turning headlights on and off to cause irritation, uncertainty, or haste to other drivers or pedestrians.
- Turn Signal. Drivers fail to indicate to others whether they are going to make a turn or they turn abruptly.
- Distance. Aggressive behavior due to distance can be of different characteristics such as driving irrationally slowly, not respecting distance between vehicles to intimidate or rush other drivers.
- Do not allow passage. Do not yield to a pedestrian or other motorized vehicles. Some aggressive drivers change lanes constantly whenever the car behind them is trying to pass.
- Motor. When drivers rev the engine while pressing the brakes as disapproving behavior shows that they are in a hurry or irritated at nearby drivers.
- Change of lanes. Drivers constantly change lanes at the slightest opportunity to pass a car as if they were racing.
- Obscene or aggressive signs. Drivers show dislike to other drivers with obscene, aggressive, or violent signals that incite violence or intimidate other drivers.
- Yelling and Horning. Drivers roll down their car window to yell rude words at other motor vehicle drivers or pedestrians. Also, drivers aggressively use the horn at the minimum wait to clear the way creating a distraction to themselves and others.
- Speeding. Drivers go at high speed if traffic allows it even in pedestrian areas.
If you have been the victim of an accident due to aggressive driving, contact the group of experienced lawyers from Unidos Legales. They will provide advice on your case to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.