Car accidents can cause some of the most severe and catastrophic injuries, especially when people are negligent. Whenever one of these crashes occurs, it’s important for those who suffer injuries to determine if someone else was negligent and may have caused the collision.
Negligence can arise in many different situations, but it’s crucial to determine what may have caused the crash when pursuing compensation. Below, we will detail some of the more common causes of car accidents and explain how a person may pursue compensation.
Some of the most common causes of crashes include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Speeding
Call our firm today at (515) 705-0233 if you need to discuss a potential case.
Drunk Driving
One of the most common causes of crashes is drunk driving. When someone is intoxicated, they experience diminished vision, reaction time, and more. Alcohol has a significant impact on cognitive abilities, and too much can make a driver very dangerous.
Roughly 10,000 accidents occur every year because of drunk driving. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that occurs far too often, with people thinking they’re more capable than they are of driving safely on the road.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is another common thing you see on the road. You look over to the vehicle next to you, and the driver has their eyes looking down to their phone. Or the driver is turned to look at their passengers. In any case, if the driver looks away from the road or is focused on something else, they may be too distracted to keep everyone safe.
Distractions can include many different things, but one of the most common is texting and driving. Looking at the phone and responding to a text can take seconds, meaning that the driver is a direct risk to others on the road.
Fatigued Driving
Fatigued driving is when someone is too tired, and it impacts their abilities. Fatigue can significantly reduce reaction time, cognitive focus, depth perception, and more. It can cause the driver to doze off, potentially resulting in a severe crash. When someone is fatigued, they may exhibit the following signs on the road:
- They may swerve from one lane to another.
- They may speed up out of nowhere.
- They may brake when there are no vehicles in front of them.
- They may have their head drooping down.
If you see a driver who may be fatigued, try not to pass them as they can crash into you, injuring you in the process.
Speeding
Whenever someone is speeding, it can become more difficult to stop to prevent an accident. They approach traffic or intersections at a high rate of speed, putting all others at risk of an accident. Speeding can also cause some of the most devastating injuries because the impact is amplified.
Unfortunately, not everyone follows the posted speed limits. Instead, they drive much faster than they should and create hazards for anyone near them on the road. If you see someone speeding, try to stay as far away as possible. Watch for their driving habits and how they merge. Report speeding and reckless drivers to local authorities. It can protect you and others from severe harm.
At LaMarca Law Group, P.C., we look out for our client. If you suffer injuries in a crash because of someone else’s negligence, we make it a point to safeguard your rights throughout the process. Our Des Moines car accident lawyers go above and beyond to put your best interests first and pursue the maximum compensation available to you. Put your trust in our team to be there for you!