If you’ve been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Victims of car accidents suffer physical and emotional traumas. These can last weeks, months, or years after the accident.
There are several common causes of car accidents. Some are more devastating than others.
Regardless, you can be left with expensive hospital bills and property damages. If your injuries were severe, it may take time before you’re able to go back to work. Some people even end up losing their jobs.
So who ends up paying for all this? It shouldn’t be you. It might be time to call an attorney.
To understand more about your rights, you need to understand the different types of car accidents. Keep reading for everything you need to know.
The Causes of Car Accidents
Astonishingly, over three million people are non-fatally injured in car accidents every year in America. Some accidents are caused by people using cell phones while others are a result of reckless driving.
If you’re not sure if the circumstances of your accident allow you to pursue restitution, find a Brandon, Florida car accident attorney. For now, here are some common causes of getting in a car wreck.
Distracting Passengers
Sometimes, driving with other people in your car can prove distracting and dangerous. However, it’s up to the driver to maintain order in his or her vehicle to protect everyone’s well-being.
Adult passengers should have a basic understanding of how they should behave while riding in a vehicle. However, for children and pets, you may need to pull the car over to remediate the situation.
Poor Weather Conditions
Many car accidents are caused by poor weather and road conditions. For example, heavy rainfall tends to result in multiple accidents.
Rain and fog reduce traction on the road and visibility. People run into one another, off the road, or into other obstacles. Avoid weather-related accidents by taking the appropriate precautions. This includes keeping tires in good condition, driving more cautiously, ensuring your window defrost works properly, and more.
Using a Phone While Driving
Cell phones are one of the most common causes of car accidents in Brandon, Florida. Over 96% of Americans own cell phones. Sadly, many of these people decide to use their phones while driving.
Taking your eyes off the road for even a second can lead to catastrophic consequences. Additionally, new vehicle technology makes it easy to use your phone and communicate with others without using your hands.
Checking a text message, looking at social media, and adjusting music is not an acceptable excuse for endangering other drivers.
Driver Error
All drivers have one thing in common – we’re all human. We make mistakes.
Unfortunately, even small mistakes can lead to serious accidents. For example, failing to yield, not checking your blind spot before changing lanes, or braking too quickly are all common causes of car accidents.
Drive defensively and keep your attention on the road to avoid making these types of mistakes.
Reckless and Aggressive Driving
When people are in a hurry, having fun, or are driving emotionally, they tend to be a danger to themselves and others.
Aggressive drivers, for example, often drive too closely to the vehicle ahead of them to intimidate them to move faster. They will also weave in and out of passing lanes, accelerate aggressively, and pass without care. All of these actions are common causes of car accidents.
Reckless driving, which can be similar to aggressive driving, can also have serious consequences. Examples of reckless driving include running red lights, blowing through stop signs, and speeding.
Depending on the circumstances, this type of driving can lead to the driver getting in an accident or causing an accident among other vehicles on the road.
Driving Under the Influence
In Brandon, Florida, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is illegal. There’s a good reason for that. When you drive while intoxicated, your reaction time, judgment, and vision are impaired.
Many people overestimate their ability to drive safely while under the influence. It is only after an accident that they realize they made a mistake. Unfortunately, at this point, it’s too late.
Road Obstacles
Car accident victims aren’t always other vehicle drivers. Pedestrians are often struck on the road. Sometimes it’s because the driver is distracted, sometimes it’s because the pedestrian wasn’t paying attention and walked out in the middle of traffic.
Regardless, road obstacles are some of the most common causes of car accidents. Typically, this involves wildlife; people hit deer, coyotes, dogs, and other animals all the time. However, other obstacles include lost cargo from trucks and trailers.
If the object is large enough, it can cause damage to the driver. However, most serious accidents involving road obstacles occur because the driver tries to avoid the object. This can lead to driving off the road, side-swiping other vehicles, or driving into oncoming traffic.
Other Drivers
Finally, though you can take precautions and drive as carefully as possible, you can never master the impossible art of controlling other drivers.
For example, if you’re driving behind someone who slams on the brakes, you may not have time to react, even if you were following at a respectable distance. Alternatively, someone could swerve into you while changing lanes, turn out in front of you, or rear-end you at a stoplight.
If another driver’s error was the cause of your accident, their insurance needs to cover the costs of your medical bills and other expenses.
Do You Need Legal Representation for a Car Accident?
As you can see, there are several causes of car accidents. However, the bottom line is that you shouldn’t have to pay for an accident if it wasn’t your fault. Your insurance or the other driver’s insurance should compensate you for damages, injuries, and any other expenses.
If you’re having trouble getting the compensation you deserve or need to know more about your case, we’re here for you. Contact us today to speak to a car accident attorney in Brandon, Florida. We will help you understand where you stand and guide you along the process.
