There are hundreds of causes of car accidents on our roads today. However, while some are caused by the drivers themselves, others are caused by mechanical failures. The law will stipulate what the cause of the accident was and decide on the amount of compensation. With a personal injury lawyer, you are a few steps away from being compensated for your car accident injuries. We delve into the causes of most road accidents and what the view of the law is on them.
- Speeding
First on our list is the issue of speeding. When you are involved in an accident due to the speeding actions of a driver, the law is greatly on your side in ensuring you get compensated for your injuries. While other factors may have also contributed to the occurrence of the accident, speeding is an offense in itself punishable under the law. Most road accident statistics point to spending being the biggest cause of road accidents. When at a high speed, it is difficult regaining control of a car once it has lost it. With lots of speed his on the highway, the law has focused on reducing the number of accidents caused by speeding.
- Distracted Driving
With distracted driving, it may be a case of using the phone while driving or other activity. Others would be caught playing with something else like a kid or a dog while driving. Distracted driving is a form of negligence and should be punished by the law. With a personal injury lawyer on your side, a driver who ignores their role on the road and causes injuries to you will pay accordingly. Drunk or intoxicated driving in general falls under this group of causes of accidents. This case is common among new drivers especially those in their teenage years who are excited with driving.
- The weather
Weather conditions that are misty, snowy or rainy may reduce the visibility on the road and the effectiveness of a driver. However, every driver is taught that such cases should be handled by reducing the speed of their cars. Driving too fast will likely lead to skidding which may cause accidents to various parties. Also, reduced visibility will increase the chances of accidents occurring as it allows little chance to rectify mistakes when they do occur. Having snow on the road is one of the most dangerous weather conditions as it makes controlling cars very difficult.
- Oncoming headlights
When driving at night, it is advisable to only use full headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. When another car appears on the horizon, dim them down to allow them see the road ahead of them. Most people forget this important aspect and keep their lights at full even when meeting other cars at night. If you don’t dim your headlights and the oncoming driver rams into you, you are on the right side of the law. On the other hand, if you don’t find them and get hit, it is a different story altogether.
- Ignoring road signs
Disregard for stop signs, zebra crossing and signs of animals crossing are all offenses under the law. If anyone, for example, hits you when you are crossing at a zebra crossing point and the traffic lights indicate that you should go across the road, you qualify to be compensated for the injuries sustained.
- Teenage Driving
If anyone without a valid driving license causes an accident, they are liable for the injuries they would have caused you.
There are many more causes of car accidents but these ones are the major ones.
