Common Causes Of Car Accidents In California
Despite all the technological advances in the automobile industry and road safety over the years, research reports suggest that nearly 3,000 Californians die in car accidents every year. Car accidents should be viewed as a legitimate health and safety hazard. Auto accidents in California can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including various forms of driver negligence.
The common causes of California auto accidents that attorneys regularly see are:
Inhospitable Weather Conditions
Poor road conditions created by bad weather cause thousands of collisions every year. Rain or snow on the roads impairs a driver’s ability to properly control their vehicle. Even a top-of-the-line anti-lock braking system fails to stop a vehicle traveling on a slippery surface. Thick fog and heavy rain often reduce visibility to an unsafe level. It is critical to drive cautiously and pull over to the side of the road if you are finding it difficult to maintain control of your vehicle.
Reckless or Distracted Driving
People who drive with a blatant disregard for the rules of the road can be classified as reckless drivers. They are one of the leading causes of auto accidents in California and throughout the US. People who change lanes without signaling, ignore traffic signs and lights and make improper turns are a danger to themselves and other commuters. In discussing distracted driving, one thing that comes to mind is cell phone use. It is a common source of driver distractions, with texting and phone conversations leading to accidents. Other forms of distracted driving include talking to passengers, looking at a map or an electronic navigation system, changing the radio station, paying attention to something on the side of the road or anything else that diverts the driver’s attention.
Speeding
One of the most dangerous causes of car accidents is speeding. It increases a driver’s likelihood of getting into a crash and reduces their ability to react quickly to a potential accident. Many people think that speeding is defined as driving faster than the posted speed limit. However, a driver can be within the posted speed limit, but still be speeding if he or she is traveling too fast for the weather and road conditions. If you are in an auto accident that was caused by someone driving too fast for the conditions of the roads or weather, then that driver may be liable for your damages even if he or she was still driving within the posted speed limit.
Going The Wrong Way On The Road
Head on collisions are often caused by drivers who are driving on the wrong side of the road or going the wrong way on a one way road. In some cases this is an error caused by not paying attention to the road signs on a one-way street. Such accidents can also occur if the driver on the wrong side of the road was intoxicated or distracted which resulted in confusion, falling asleep at the wheel, or driving into the wrong lane. These accidents mostly happen at night and on weekends, possibly because these are the times when people are most likely to be intoxicated or fatigued.
Violation of Traffic Laws and Signals
Traffic laws and signals can be violated in a variety of ways. Failing to yield the right of way, failing to maintain an appropriate distance between vehicles, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failing to stop at traffic lights and stop signs are some examples. When traffic signals are disregarded by drivers, they often end up causing side-impact collisions. Efforts to reduce the incidence of such collisions are underway and one of the methods is to install cameras to catch drivers running red lights. However, this does not minimize the number of accidents caused by failing to yield the right of way or making improper turns or lane changes.
If you have recently been the victim of someone else’s careless behavior or negligence on the road then it is advisable to contact an experienced law firm such as the California Workers Compensation Lawyers in Los Angeles today.
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