While a segment of the population uses public or private transportation to get around, whether it’s for errands, to get to work, to go to a recreational place, etc., a large part of the population has their own vehicle and drives themselves to get around, whether for the above-mentioned or other purposes.
However, this only indicates to us that a large part of the population carries greater responsibility for the prevention and risk of car crashes; that is, the other segment is still at risk of being involved in a collision. Certainly, moving from one area to another is not an easy task, so obviously this segment is not at the margin of risk.
But let’s stop talking nonsense and get straight to the point: this time, we want to provide information on the top 5 causes of car accidents. We will also provide some information on the legal advice required in the event of such incidents and other details. Read on to learn more about one of the most serious issues in the United States, especially in California.
Speeding
Of course, this is nothing new: speeding is the main reason for traffic collisions. There are many factors why exceeding the speed limits greatly increases the risks of a road accident: for example, if you are driving at a speed above the set speed limit, the ability to clearly visualize the obstacles that may appear on the road is significantly reduced. And even if you did manage to notice the sudden impediments, you couldn’t avoid them in time. Performing a high-speed maneuver is extremely complex.
The recommendation is unfailing: respect the speed limits. We are aware that there are days when you will be late for work and tempted to drive fast, but don’t do it. Not only will you put your life at risk, but other people’s too.
Drunk driving
As with speeding, it is well known that drunk driving is one of the most common causes of road crashes.
However, we cannot put both causes on the same scale: the probability of a drunk driver causing an accident is higher than that of a speeding driver. Let’s illustrate this with an invented but very explanatory fact: out of every 10 cases of speeding, 3 end in an accident; while out of every 10 cases of drunk driving, about 7 end in a tragedy. Remember: this is false information; it is only used as an explanation.
On the other hand, the reaction time of a drunk driver is much, much shorter than the reaction time of a speeding driver; therefore, accidents caused by the drunk driver are always more tragic, resulting in a greater number of casualties and with a significantly higher magnitude of damage.
Every day there are victims of drink-driving accidents, and the saddest thing is that they could have been avoided. Everyone who is near a drunk driver is a potential victim: from nearby vehicles, passers-by, among others. No person can protect himself or herself from the irresponsibility of an impaired driver.
This type of misfortune is on the rise and has become a major concern nationwide; for example, a non-profit organization called Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was created in the United States and Canada with the following objectives, as its name suggests: counter the rise of such accidents; provide support to all those affected; dedicate efforts to prevent underage drinking; and promote the strengthening of existing drink-driving regulations, regardless of whether that state has been achieved by drinking alcohol or other substance.
Distractions
Unfortunately, there is still a belief that, with skill and agility, it is possible to multi-task while driving a vehicle. Many people think they can drive a car, while focusing their attention on the music they want to put in the player; or while texting, checking their social networks or, most commonly, talking on the phone.
And, to be honest, it is possible to perform tasks simultaneously. But the problem is that these tasks are distracting, reducing your attention from the road and increasing your risk of an accident. So: you can, but you MUST NOT. Unfortunately, people learn this lesson when it is too late….
Mechanical failures
Although to a lesser extent, there are also accidents that are not the responsibility of the driver. I am referring, of course, to those collisions caused by mechanical failures of the vehicle. You must keep in mind that they are human inventions, ergo, they are not perfect and can have defects in their functioning.
Mechanical failures are usually related to problems with the brake system; defects in the seat belt and the flat roof. But faults can be present anywhere in the vehicle, so the risk is always going to be there, no matter how hard you try to make thorough checks.
Driver’s error
You may be wondering, “Why is this a separate category? Aren’t the first three causes the driver’s mistakes?” And the answer is similar to the one I gave in point 2: you can’t measure mistakes by carelessness or inexperience with the same stick; as “mistakes” like driving while intoxicated and so on.
That said, what do I mean by “driver’s error”? As we explained a moment ago, this category includes errors related to carelessness or inexperience, such as inappropriate turning or incorrectly calculating the distance between the vehicle and an obstacle on the road or a stationary object.
These mistakes are made by a person who does not have much experience in driving a vehicle. Therefore, “driver’s error” accidents are those caused by young people, teenagers, people who are learning to drive, or people who have recently obtained a driver’s license and so on.
Of course, the only way to gain experience is to drive on highways and so on. But you have to be very careful. If you can take any security measures in this regard, take it.
About the time to file a claim
One thing you should know (and that’s why we attach this kind of detail to the article) is the maximum time a person has to file a claim for damages resulting from an automobile accident.
Under current law, a person has up to 2 years, maximum time, to file a claim for a car accident, but this limit is higher if the claim is for property damage, since the maximum time is 3 years.
Seems like a long time, doesn’t it? Well, it turns out that it doesn’t…. I remind you that agreements are usually reached between the parties before they go to court or file a lawsuit. That is to say, those involved try to negotiate and talk to avoid the case reaching a court, since things get remarkably complicated.
That is why, if you become the victim of an automobile accident, you should contact our team of lawyers as soon as possible. We are comprised of the highest level of legal professionals with expertise in personal injury claims.
Apart from the virtues we have just mentioned, we have pure and hard statistics that you can check right here on our site: we have achieved important victories in most of the cases that have come into our hands, so we are one of the best options to be considered in the event that you or one of your loved ones is affected by a vehicle collision.
On the other hand, we strongly recommend that you don’t make the mistake of not hiring a lawyer; the issues associated with an automobile accident claim are far from simple. On the contrary, they are numerous and extremely complex, requiring the assistance of a professional in the field with considerable experience, as well as legal and empirical knowledge.
Kindness is a feature that is currently in short supply: insurers will do everything they can to minimize the amount of compensation, regardless of the injuries you may have. They will use morally reprehensible techniques only in order not to disburse large amounts of money. In previous articles, we have addressed this issue.
And if you haven’t already been involved in a car accident, don’t wait until you’re involved to start looking for a lawyer! Write our contact numbers on a piece of paper and keep it. You never know when you’ll need our services and, as they say, “it’s better to have it and not need it, than to have it and not have it”. You should also write that sentence down on the sheet….
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