Where Do Car Accidents Happen Most Often?

Motor vehicle accidents occur all the time, but did you know that they occur most often in only a few places on the road? You may have thought of a few, but this article will provide you the full details about where accidents occur, so you have the information you need to know when to ramp up your cautious driving to the maximum.

At Fredson Statmore Bitterman LLC in New Jersey, we understand just how serious a car crash really can be. Our experienced attorneys have worked on countless car accident claims over the last 40 years, and no matter whether you caused or were the victim in a car accident, you want the help of experienced car accident attorneys like us helping you out. Don’t settle for less than what your accident is really worth. We will fight to make sure you get the compensation you deserve and your rights are upheld. Call us today to schedule your free consultation with one of our car accident attorneys.

Areas Where There Is a Higher Risk of a Car Accident

No matter how hard you try, you can’t prevent all car accidents from happening. However, you can reduce your risk by knowing where most accidents occur, and using that knowledge to support greater concentration, alertness, and careful driving during those situations. Here are the top five most common areas where car accidents occur:

#1: Parking Lots

Accidents in parking lots are extremely common. People are supposed to drive slowly in parking lots, but that doesn’t stop serious accidents and even fatalities from occurring all the time — often involving pedestrians, other vehicles, or shopping carts. It doesn’t take long to understand why parking lots have so many accidents; the chaotic nature and large number of vehicles maneuvering around parking lots make them hotbeds for car accidents. Some basic safety tips for driving in a parking lot are:

• Don’t park too close to other cars — If you can’t find a parking spot near the entrance of your destination, don’t squeeze into that one spot that you know is too narrow for your car. Carelessness or a gust of wind can lead you to slamming your door into the side of another vehicle, leading to costly damages. A slightly longer walk from the parking lot is a better alternative than damaging someone’s vehicle.
• Drive slowly — Even if the parking lot is relatively empty, there are many hazards all around you when you’re in them. Look multiple times to check that there are no pedestrians or other vehicles behind or coming towards you before pulling out or making another type of maneuver.
• Watch out for carts — Many accidents in parking lots involve stray carts; shopping carts can easily slam into your vehicle, as they are designed to roll, so a gust of wind can push them into your vehicle.
• Rely on rear back up technology — Use your car’s built in safety technology to warn you of obstacles when backing up in a parking lot.

#2: Stoplights

One of the areas of the road where you are most vulnerable are stoplights. Rear-end collisions are particularly prevalent here, as the need to accelerate and decelerate requires more attention than just cruising down the highway. It is estimated that about 165,000 accidents occur at intersections simply because of red-light runners every year. The rear-end collision, very common at stoplights, is the most common type of crash in America.

#3: Intersections

About 40% of crashes involve intersections. Intersections can be difficult for drivers, as many drivers struggle to understand who has the right-of-way. Four-way stops without a light can be one of the most dangerous road hazards you regularly encounter. Here are some safety tips to reduce auto accidents at intersections:

• Come to a complete stop at a stop sign
• Look both ways for oncoming traffic before you pull out
• Double-check for cars — better safe than sorry
• Be alert to vehicles that aren’t slowing down and could run a red light
• Use your turn signal to communicate to other drivers what your intentions are

Conversely, here are some things you should NEVER do at an intersection:

• Run a red light
• Speed through it
• Make unsafe left-hand turns
• Rely on you having the right-of-way
• Follow another vehicle too closely

#4: Rural Highways

Despite the fact that rural highways see less traffic, they remain one of the most common places for single-car accidents. The fact that there are so few cars on rural highways actually contributes to the danger, as drivers may stop feeling the need to watch the road and end up veering off it.

Less than half of American’s traffic is on rural roads, but more than half of the nation’s vehicular deaths occur on them. Some contributing factors to this are the facts that there are more drinking and driving and less seatbelt usage among rural drivers. People on rural roads also tend to drive faster, as there are fewer obstacles and less worry about being pulled over.

When someone on a rural highway gets in an accident, it will usually take longer for them to receive medical attention, due to the road’s remoteness. There are also plenty of obstacles urban roads have less issues with — like wild animals darting out into the road suddenly. Here are some basic safety tips for when driving on a rural highway:

• Pass with caution — Pass only when the road is marked to allow passing (a dashed yellow line) and make sure there are no vehicles coming towards you from the other direction when you are passing.
• Drive the speed limit — Actually do it!
• Watch out for hidden driveways — Rural roads will often have curvy or old roads that weren’t necessarily designed with maximum safety and visibility in mind. One such obstacle can be hidden driveways, which may be scattered all along a rural road and be difficult to see before you get close.
• Be courteous to tractors and farming combines — Farm equipment is a common sight driving down rural roads. Make sure you give them plenty of space and maneuver extra carefully around them.
• Watch out for livestock — There may be road signs that there is livestock roaming around, there may not be. Either way, you don’t want to end up hitting a buffalo.
• Use your high beams as necessary — If you’re used to driving around urban environments, you may not feel the need to use your high beams very often. As rural roadways tend to be darker, it may be necessary for you to use your high beams more often.

 #5: Two-Lane Roads

The last place on our list of common places that car accidents happen is on two-lane roads. These are those roads where there is only a single lane going each way, usually with just a thin yellow line dividing them. If a driver strays out of their lane in this situation, it could easily mean a head-on-collision, a very serious accident.

Stay Safe By Being Aware

One of the most important ways for you to stay safe while driving is to understand where you are at greatest risk of getting in a car accident. In our list above, we went over five of the most common places car accidents occur:

1. Parking lots
2. Stoplights
3. Intersections
4. Rural highways
5. Two-way roads

If you or someone you love do get involved in a car accident in New Jersey, reach out to Fredson Statmore Bitterman LLC to work with personal injury attorneys with over 50 years of experience and the skills and knowledge to get you the compensation you deserve. Call now and schedule your free consultation.