Some common risk factors cause car accidents. Many of these risk factors are preventable through simple observation or reducing distractions. While some of these factors are more dangerous than others, it is good to note all the common ways a car accident can happen to prevent future ones.
- Distracted Driving – Claiming over 3,000 lives in 2016 and 2017 separately, this safety concern grows with each passing year. While your mind may immediately go to cell phone use, other forms of distracted driving contribute to these highly preventable car accidents. Loud music, hunger, stress, and even contemplating mental to-do lists can be a form of distracted driving. Anything that takes your eyes off the road or your hands off the steering wheel is a hazard to you.
- Night Driving – The lack of light makes night driving more dangerous than day driving. Many aspects of your vision are affected, such as depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision. This makes judgment calls while driving more complicated and can lead to car accidents. Reaction time is drastically reduced when you are feeling fatigued after not sleeping. Additionally, night driving brings out drowsy driving. Falling asleep at the wheel is not as uncommon as you may think, as a recent survey stated that 40% of drivers polled admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel. Both drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel can be prevented with some honest observation of what your body is telling you.
- Teen Driving – Experience comes with age and practice. Many times teenage drivers do not fully know how inexperienced they are. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), teen drivers rate worse in all categories. It is merely a matter of experience. Teenage drivers need adult drivers to teach them good driving habits and setting ground rules for when they take to the road. Good examples of these rules could include no cell phone use in the car, a limit to how many passengers are in the car, and limited night driving.
- Vehicle Recalls – Between the years of 2015 and 2016, about 900 recalls were issued for vehicles in the U.S. Another alarming statistic comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), where they state that more than 50 million vehicles on the road have unresolved safety recalls. Only through educating yourself on your particular vehicle will keep you ahead of the game in case a recall happens. Never take a recall lightly if you are informed of one. Your life could be at stake.
- Poor Vehicle Maintenance – Sadly, many are reactive rather than proactive when it comes to vehicular maintenance. Many only bring their vehicle to the mechanic’s shop when there is an issue rather than for routine maintenance. Aside from giving your vehicle a long life, regular preventative maintenance helps keep you safe on the road. A mechanic can identify problems that may exist already and notice where a potential problem may come down the line.
Contact An Experienced Providence Car Accident Lawyer Today!
If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident due to a distracted driver, contact one of our knowledgeable Providence Car Accident Lawyers. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering, among other losses. Contact our Providence office anytime at 401-831-8600 or fill out a contact form online for a free (no obligation) case evaluation.
Paul d’Oliveira
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.
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