Did you know that there are over 6 million car collisions in the United States every year? With the staggering statistics, finding ways to avoid a car collision can help ease driving anxiety. One of the best ways you can avoid collisions is to understand the most common causes. Knowing the frequent causes, you can prevent distracted driving and other hazards.

If you’ve been curious about the causes of car collisions, we’re here to help.

Distracted Driving

The first most common cause of car collisions is distracted driving. Distractions while driving are a quick way to find yourself in a collision. You might find yourself trying to find an attorney if you glanced at your phone and ended up rear-ending someone. Other common distractions include:

  • Changing your car’s music
  • Checking your dashboard
  • Talking to someone in your car
  • Eating while driving

You also can find distractions outside of your vehicle. Getting caught up looking at something like a billboard-or even another car accident-may lead to a car collision of your own. You also won’t have as quick of a reaction if something on the road requires reflexes.

Driving Under the Influence

Another unfortunate cause of car accidents is driving under the influence (DUI). Legally, driving under the influence means someone is operating a conveyance while impaired by drugs or alcohol. However, that isn’t to say that illegal drugs or high amounts of alcohol are the only way to be under the influence.

Many prescription medications can impair your ability to drive. If your doctor tells you not to drive while under a new prescription drug, ensure that you don’t.

Drowsy Driving

Even if you’re completely sober, there are times you aren’t fit to drive. One that many people unfortunately underestimate is drowsy driving. As many as 4% of American adults have admitted to falling asleep while driving.

Inclement Weather

Inclement weather is a common reason for collisions, especially snow and rain. These conditions can create dangerous driving conditions and difficulty stopping for everyone on the road.

Lowered visibility will also contribute to these kinds of collisions. In inclement weather, do your best to drive safely. You should also consider pulling over safely until the weather passes.

Speeding

We’ve all gone a few miles per hour over the speed limit, but excessive speeding can lead to collisions. The faster you’re going, the harder it is to react to a hazard or another driver. High-speed collisions also have a greater chance of being fatal or causing severe damage both to you and your vehicles.

Aggressive Driving

Driving aggressively forces other drivers to react to you. That means you risk the person you cut off not knowing you’re in front of them until they’ve hit you. You also might find yourself hitting a hazard in your aggressive rush. Next time you’re in a rush, consider how long you’ll be stuck if you end up in an accident.

Night Driving

Night driving is often unavoidable. Late work hours, long trips, or nighttime plans will require you to drive at night. Fewer drivers are on the road at night, but late-night collisions are much more severe.

Statistics show there are more fatal car accidents and more injured pedestrians at night. Partially, this is due to low visibility, drowsy drivers, or drivers under the influence. Others drive more aggressively, thinking they’ll have fewer cars near them on the road.

Road Rage

Car Collision Damages

Aggressive driving is common and often leads to road rage. Road rage doesn’t always cause an altercation, though many of us associate it with laying on the horn or screaming at a passing car.

However, your driving is affected immediately, even if you’re silent. You may also distract yourself by staring at the driver or shouting at them, whether they can hear you or not.

Road rage is another form of distracted driving. Do your best to remain calm and focused on the road at all times. Wherever the person you’re upset at was driving, there’s a good chance you’ll never see them again.

Damages After a Car Collision

In the moments following a car collision and after you know you’re safe, one of the first things you’ll likely think of is the damages that will result from the accident.

A skilled car accident attorney can help you secure the necessary finances to cover the damages to your vehicle and interruption to your life. Here are four of the most common types of damages.

#1. Medical Bills

There’s a high chance you’ll need some sort of medical attention after even a minor collision. Whiplash, soreness, and other minor injuries are common no matter the collision’s severity.

More intense collisions can cause broken bones, hospitalization, and more. The treatment for these issues is often extremely costly, especially in the United States healthcare system. A good attorney can help you recoup these costs. While you may not get your entire medical bill paid, it can help alleviate the high costs.

#2. Pain and Suffering

Even without medical bills, pain and suffering are still considered damages. The severe pain and physical complications of a collision deserve financial compensation. Of course, such compensation won’t lessen the pain, but it can ease the burden and help you get back on your feet.

Mental anguish is also often put into pain and suffering. Some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder and severe anxiety disorder after an accident. In many cases, some refuse to drive after a collision.

#3. Lost Wages

After an accident, you may need to miss a few days of work. A lack of transportation or needing to spend a few days resting after the ordeal can leave you unable to work.

In this situation, you can seek compensation for the damages of the lost money. Since you’ve lost your shift, the money that you would have made becomes a loss. Calculating how much you would have made if you worked the shifts can show you what damages you can sue for.

#4. Diminished Wages

In more extreme cases, you might have lost more than a few days of wages. Missing enough work or having to leave your workplace outright can turn into diminished wages.

If a vehicle accident has left someone unable to earn their usual salary, the lowered income becomes a diminished wage. These damages might result if someone had to transfer departments or move to a lower-income, work-from-home situation to continue working. No matter what the case, skilled attorneys can help you reclaim your wages.

car collision attorney

Car Collision Help

You should always do your best to drive as safely as possible. Avoid distractions and do not drive if you are under the influence or drowsy. In the unfortunate case that you’re in a car collision, seek medical attention and legal representation immediately.

Effective legal representation can help make sure that you can reclaim your losses. A skilled attorney can bring great comfort to your difficult situation, whether it’s high medical bills, mental anguish, or lowered wages.

To learn more about vehicle collisions and the legal system surrounding such events, contact us today for more information.