Common Causes of Traffic Accidents

Traffic collisions are so common that they are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control more than 32,000 people are tragically killed, and 2 million are injured each year from motor vehicle accidents. The majority of those accidents, driver’s negligence or a driver’s error is to blame for a life-altering traffic accident. Errors and negligence can develop in many ways; which is why Miller Weisbrod’s team of personal injury lawyers would like to discuss a few of the leading causes of fatal and injurious traffic accidents.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

In 2020, the Texas Department of Transportation recorded 483,164 motor vehicle accidents. These car accidents injured 205,498 people and tragically killed 3,896 others. Human error is the number one cause of car accidents. Negligent, careless, and reckless drivers cause an average of over 563 car accidents per day in Texas. Shockingly, there was an 18.94% increase in the number of car and truck accidents resulting in deaths from 2019.

In 2020, there was not a single day without a car wreck involving a death. More fatal car accidents occurred in October than any other month.

Car accidents resulted in thousands of serious injuries. Statistics show there were 12,107 serious injury car crashes with a total of 14,656 persons being injured. A total of 205,498 persons suffered an injury due to a car or truck accident in 2020.

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Faulty evasive action
• Failure to yield
• Failure to obey stop signs
• Fatigued driving or falling asleep at the wheel

Driving under the influence, distracted driving, and speeding are the top contributing factors in fatal car accidents in Texas. If a negligent or reckless driver caused your car accident or took a loved one’s life, call now. Our car accident attorneys can help determine the cause of your car accident and file a claim or lawsuit against the at-fault person or company if the wreck involves a commercial vehicle or a person driving for work.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI)

Data from the Department of Public Safety shows that impaired driving accounted for 31 percent of fatal traffic accidents. Even though impaired driving has been on the decline nationwide, this reckless driving habit still accounts for a third of deadly traffic accidents and leaves tens of thousands suffering.

The most deaths due to alcohol involved car or truck accidents occurred between 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning. It is clear, intoxicated drivers leaving bars at the end of the night continue to be a problem all across Texas. Saturday was the deadliest day for drunk-driving car accidents.

SPEEDING

Speeding is another leading cause of fatal traffic accidents. Speeding contributed to 26 percent of all fatal accidents. Speed limits may be an inconvenience to some motorists, but they are actually developed with safety in mind. A motorist who is speeding could easily lose control of their vehicle, rear-end another motorist or cause an accident in a number of other ways. Speed also typically causes the resulting injuries to be more severe or deadly.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Driver distraction is another leading cause of traffic accidents in the United States. According to the Department of Public Safety, distracted driving accounted for 9 percent of car accidents. Now that a majority of motorists have smart phones and use them behind the wheel, distracted driving continues to be a major safety hazard on the road. Cell phones are not solely to blame for distracted driving accidents, even activities like talking to a passenger, reaching for a cup of coffee or changing the volume on the stereo can lead to a tragic car accident.

Any one of these unsafe driving habits can lead to an accident and life-changing injuries for all parties involved. If you have been injured in car or truck accident caused by a negligent driver, speak with a car accident lawyer and set up a case evaluation to see what moves you need to make next. You may be eligible for compensation for your medical expenses, emotional distress and any other accident-related expenses you incur.

Those who are injured in a traffic accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver can contact the car accident lawyers of Miller Weisbrod about their legal options. We offer sound legal advice, experienced representation and dedicated advocacy to victims of car accidents. Miller Weisbrod represents persons who have suffered serious injuries and families that have lost a loved one due to a car or truck accident across the State of Texas.

Contact our offices in Dallas at 214.987.0005 to schedule a free consultation with our experienced car accident lawyers. If you are calling from anywhere in Texas please call toll free at 888.987.0005. You may also fill out the form on this page to have your case reviewed by an attorney.