Car Accident Causes
Though different factors may cause various car accidents, multiple causes can sometimes lead to a single car accident. Car accident causes include the following:
- Driver Behavior – According to the Department of Transportation majority of accidents are caused by irresponsible driving behavior or driver error.
- Driver distraction:
- Cell phone use while driving (talking and texting)
- Talking with passengers
- Eating or grooming in the car
- Dealing with children or pets in the back seat
- Attempting to retrieve dropped items
- Driver impairment:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver illness and/or handicap
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, both legal and illegal
- Speeding. The faster the speed of a vehicle, the greater the risk of an accident.
- Reckless and Aggressive Drivers.
- Driver distraction:
- Equipment Failure – Mechanical failures in cars can lead to catastrophic accidents, especially when driving at a high speed or with other vehicles in the area. The most common are:
- Brake Failure
- Uneven or Worn-out Tires
- Steering & Suspension System Failure
- Roadway Design - Some roads are notorious for being accident "black spots" for a whole variety of reasons, many subtle and not necessarily immediately obvious. These include alignment, visibility, camber and surface conditions, road markings, etc.
- Poor Maintenance - Roadway maintenance contributes to some motor vehicle accidents such as foreign obstacles or substances on the road surface; rain, ice, or snow making the roads slick; road damage including pot holes.