The majority of accidents in California happen due to negligent behavior of the drivers. Top causes of accidents in the state can be attributed to speeding, driving when impaired and distraction from cell phones.
In 2018, there were around 3,304 fatal car crashes in California. The number seems to increase year after year as drivers find more ways to get distracted on the road.
The main cause of these car accidents was negligence on part of the driver. It’s of utmost importance that drivers understand the dangers they’re putting themselves and others in by not paying attention on the road.
Let’s look at the top causes of car accidents in California:
Speeding
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety claims that many major accidents can be avoided if drivers just remained within the speed limit. Speeding takes away control from the hands of the driver and reduces their reaction time.
Speeding vehicles have large amounts of energy which makes them that much harder to control; once all that energy is released during impact, it has devastating consequences.
Impaired Driving
Drunk drivers and others who drive under the influence of drugs take hundreds of lives every year. Anything that compromises a driver’s reaction time is deadly on the road! For the past few years, around 25% of the fatal car crashes in California were a result of impaired driving. This hike in impaired driving accidents can be linked to the increased use of medical marijuana.
Distraction
Regardless of how many times people are told to put their phones away when driving, it continues to be a problem. Although it’s hard to determine whether a driver is actually distracted by their phones or not, it’s a rational conclusion to come to. In 2014, 61% of drivers in California admitted that they either had a collision or were close to one when they were using their phones and driving at the same time.
Not all distractions are illegal; many times they happen when the driver is using a hands-free device. Other times the driver may be simply not be in the state of mind to drive. Anger, stress, etc. can all impact a driver’s ability to focus on the road.
If you have gotten into an accident due a negligent driver or even due to your own mistakes, an experienced car accident lawyer can help you with your claims. Avrek Law has a team of highly qualified personal injury lawyers that can help you get the compensation you deserve.
We offer a range of legal services. Call us now (866) 598-5548
