What Are the Most Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents?

In the majority of auto accidents, another driver or drivers are found to be at fault. Unlawful actions taken by a driver may be considered negligent or reckless, including:

Driving While Distracted – cell phone usage, socializing with passengers, eating, drinking, and smoking are all common examples of distracted driving. Any activity which takes the full attention away from the road can be potentially dangerous.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI) – driving over the legal limit for Blood Alcohol Concentration or while under the influence of controlled substances is dangerous, illegal, and reckless.

Negligent Drivers – failure to obey posted traffic laws, reckless driving, and otherwise creating a dangerous situation for themselves and other travelers may be caused by driving negligently or carelessly.

Speeding – traveling faster than posted speed limits is not only illegal, but can drastically reduce the available reaction time and control a driver has over his or her vehicle, potentially leading to serious accidents.

Driving While Exhausted – it has been shown that driving without a good night’s sleep can impact reaction time, cognitive skills, and physical ability in a similar fashion to being legally drunk.

Car Accident Injury Attorneys Discuss Other Common Causes

Beyond driver error, there are several other possible scenarios which can lead to an injurious auto accident. Our Wayne attorneys identify some of the most common culprits:

Hazardous Road Conditions – Unfinished or improperly maintained roads, debris from construction, and poor signage all may contribute to dangerous road conditions.

Vehicle Defects – even a single part of an automobile failing can lead to catastrophic consequences for drivers, passengers, and other travelers.

Animals in Road – wild animals including deer, rabbits, turkeys, and more make a habit of sticking their heads into traffic when drivers least expect it. Instincts can take over, causing drivers to avoid a collision, but actually causing greater damage in the process by running off the road or hitting another vehicle.

Dangerous Weather – Ice, sleet, snow, rain, and high winds are all common weather patterns in our New Jersey communities which may lead to injurious auto accidents.

Personal Injury Attorneys Discuss Importance of Finding Fault in Car Accident Injury Claims

In order for our Woodland Park personal injury attorneys to recover the financial compensation to which you and your family are entitled, we will need to prove that your accident was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party. In the case of motor vehicle accidents, there are three primary avenues for us to explore based on the common accident causes listed above.

Claim Against Another Driver or Drivers – earlier we discussed common causes of motor vehicle accidents where other drivers were at fault, including drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, and more. In this case, our attorneys will work with the insurance provider of the at fault driver to recover compensation for your injuries.

Premises Liability Claim – if hazardous road conditions or improperly maintained roadways were to blame, we may hold the entity responsible for the public or private roads liable for your injuries. This may include government entities, which involves special protocols.

Product Liability Claim – if mechanical failure of your vehicle or another vehicle caused your injurious accident, our Woodland Park attorneys may seek to find the auto manufacturers, assemblers, retailers, or even your auto body shop at fault.

Contact our Car Accident Injury Attorneys Today