Georgia Car Accident Lawyers Discuss The Common Causes of Auto Accidents
Although the variety of factors that can contribute to serious motor vehicle collisions is almost limitless, there are several dangerous driving practices and motor vehicle safety hazards that contribute to a disproportionate number of crashes. Our car accident lawyers in Georgia recognize that motorists can reduce their probability of being involved a serious collision that causes injuries or fatalities with a better awareness of the risks and practices to avoid. Tragically, tens of thousands of people die annually in traffic collisions even though most crashes are preventable, which is evident based on these common causes.
- Alcohol (Drug) Impaired Drivers: Motorists with driving abilities impaired by drugs or alcohol cause approximately one in three traffic-related fatalities annually and injury to hundreds of thousands more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta reports that an alcohol-impaired driver causes an accident approximately every 53 minutes. While it might be tempting to assume that your risk of being involved in a collision involving an intoxicated driver is relatively low, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that an average of two in three people will be involved in a collision with an alcohol-impaired driver at some point during their lifetime. Traffic-related deaths and injuries caused by drunk drivers are especially upsetting because the accidents are so easily preventable. Nonetheless, statistics provided by MADD indicate that the average driver will operate a motor vehicle eighty times under the influence of alcohol before an initial drunk driving arrest. The danger posed by drivers impaired by alcohol can hardly be overstated because alcohol and drug intoxication can adversely impact concentration, vision, judgment, reaction time, depth perception, speed estimation, and recognition of spatial relations.
- Traveling at an Unsafe Speed: Although many drivers exceed the speed limit on a periodic basis, traveling at an unsafe speed presents a dual threat to roadway safety. The first safety issue involves the limited reaction time for engaging in evasive maneuvers or reducing speed to avoid a collision. The second safety issue relates to the increased force of impact associated with higher speeds. Whether a driver is traveling at a pace that is unsafe given roadway and traffic conditions or over the posted speed limit, the risk of a crash increases dramatically. The risk of an injury accident can be even more serious when motorists do not reduce their speed in school zones and the vicinity of construction projects.
- Lack of Driving Experience: Teen drivers often lack the ability to react instinctively to roadway hazards and other unanticipated situations. Newly licensed drivers also do not have experience dealing with alcohol, driving distractions, and other factors that compromise the driving ability of all motorists. During a recent one-year period, motor vehicle accidents involving teens claimed the lives of 2,163 teens and resulted in over 243,000 teens being treated in hospital emergency rooms. In other words, teen auto accidents claim the lives of six people per day in the U.S. Certain factors raise the risk of novice drivers being involved in a serious crash, including driving after dark and transporting teen passengers.
