Driver error is one of the major car accident causes. Many factors can contribute to careless driving including youth and aging, bad driving ability, fear of traffic, distraction and drowsiness. Reckless driving is characterized by selfish or aggressive driving, including tailgating, violating traffic signs, unsafe lane changes and failing to yield to other vehicles. Regardless of the cause, driver error is a serious matter.
Driver error
Driver error is one of the leading causes of car crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), human error is responsible for 90-93% of crashes. Driver error can be classified into several subgroups. These include mistakes in recognition, decision making, and performance. Distracted driving is one of the most common forms of driver error, with people not paying enough attention to their surroundings. Distracted driving can lead to poor lookout and other car crash hazards. Distracted driving accounts for approximately 40 percent of all operator errors.
Driver error statistics are used to develop crash avoidance technology that can reduce the number of vehicle collisions. The most common types of driver error, according to research by personal injury lawyers on Court St, Buffalo, NY, are nonperformance, recognition, and performance errors. These problems can affect both the cause and the outcome of an accident. Driver error can result in personal injury, property damage, and fatalities. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident because of a driver’s mistake, contact an experienced accident attorney to discuss your rights.
Slick roads
Slick roads are one of the leading causes of car accidents. In fact, more than half of all crashes on icy roads result in serious injuries and fatalities. A car accident on an icy road can be devastating to the victim and their family. Aside from the physical injuries, victims can incur thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and funeral costs.
Environmental factors play a role in accidents, but only two percent of crashes are caused by the environment. Even then, slick roads, glare, and other environmental factors can contribute to a collision. However, NHTSA also warns that environmental factors are not the only cause of a crash. This is because there are many non-environmental reasons that cause car accidents. In fact, the NHTSA’s Crash Causation Survey report stated that in two percent of all road accidents investigated, officials are unable to determine the cause of a crash.
Glare
During winter, the glare from the sun is a major cause of car accidents. This hazard may cause a driver to become temporarily blinded and crash into another car or an object on the road. It is especially dangerous when the sun is shining through a dirty windshield or snow. Therefore, drivers should take precautions to avoid accidents caused by glare.
A car accident caused by sun glare can occur anywhere. Even in South Florida, bright, sunny days can increase the risk of glare-related collisions. In these cases, the fault usually lies with the driver who was blinded by the glare. A personal injury lawyer can help victims of sun-related car accidents prove fault by pursuing the appropriate parties for compensation.
Driver fatigue
Fatigue can be a major contributor to car accidents. It interferes with a driver’s ability to concentrate and pay attention. This can cause a driver to drift out of their lane, hit a rumble strip on the shoulder, or make an abrupt lane change. This can cause serious injuries, including fatalities. To prevent fatigue-related crashes, drivers should get enough sleep and avoid driving alone or late at night. They should also take breaks every two hours and keep the temperature of the car cool.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver fatigue is a leading cause of car accidents. In fact, it is estimated to be responsible for up to 3 percent of all accidents. In addition, driver fatigue is linked to nearly half of all accidents that result in injury and death. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration reports that drowsy driving affects more than a million drivers annually, and it is one of the most preventable causes of accidents. Driver fatigue is especially dangerous for nighttime workers, shift workers, and those who don’t get enough rest.
Cell phone use
Using a cell phone while driving has been linked to a number of accidents. It causes the driver to be distracted, which is a common cause of car crashes. Although eyewitnesses may report that the driver was distracted, these reports are not always reliable. If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you should contact a car accident lawyer for legal advice. An attorney can explain your rights and potential remedies to you, and represent you in court if necessary.
Using a cell phone while driving is one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents. According to the National Safety Council, drivers who are using their phones while driving increase their risk of a crash by 23 percent. The reason for this is that texting while driving requires drivers to divert their attention for just five seconds – and crashes typically happen within three seconds of the driver using their phone.
