Car Accidents – Understanding the Causes

Millions of people are harmed in car accidents across the United States each year, and sadly, the majority of these tragic crashes could have been prevented if the drivers had acted differently. Although every incident is different, there are a number of different factors that are commonly involved in auto accidents.

We encourage you to read about some of the most common causes of collisions so that you can learn what steps to take to protect yourself and your loved ones on the road.

• Distracted Driving – By some estimates, distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents in the U.S. Texting, talking on the phone, taking your hands off of the wheel, taking your eyes off of the road, and other such actions can drastically increase your risk of being involved in an accident. (Read more about Distracted Driving)
• Speeding– The faster you drive, the more difficult it becomes to control your vehicle and avoid a collision in the event that the driver in front of you slams their brakes, another car veers into your lane, a child or animal runs into the road, or an object appears in your path.
• Reckless Driving – Reckless driving can include changing lanes abruptly, cutting off other vehicles, tailgating, and any other behavior that puts motorists and pedestrians in danger. Similar to speeding, driving recklessly can make it hard to respond safely if circumstances on the road suddenly change.
• Teenaged Drivers – Although not true in every case, statistics show that teenaged drivers are at far greater risk of being involved in motor vehicle accidents than adults. Most experts attribute this increased risk to the young drivers’ lack of experience. Teach your teens to be diligent and careful drivers, and you may want to consider banning cell phone and radio use in the car until they have more experience on the road.
• Driving Under the Influence – Drivers who choose to operate their vehicles while they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs put themselves, other motorists, and pedestrians at risk of serious injury and fatality. Do your part to prevent these needless accidents by always taking a taxi or riding with a designated driver if you are intoxicated.
• Failure to Obey Traffic Signs and Signals – While highways are often the locations of major pile-ups or dangerous rollovers, thousands of serious collisions occur in surface street intersections each year. These accidents can typically be prevented by stopping at red lights and stop signs and by taking a few moments to look both ways for pedestrians or other vehicles before entering into an intersection.

If you have been involved in a car accident in the Las Vegas area, we encourage you to call our firm to learn about your legal options. You can also visit our website for more information about car accidents.