Posted in Car Accident,Distracted Driving,Drunk Driving,Personal Injury on November 14, 2014
5 Common Causes of Auto Accidents
Auto accidents can happen at any time without warning. Although most drivers take extra care to drive carefully and watch out for other vehicles, all it takes is a brief moment of distraction, a small patch of water or ice, or a reaction time that’s a split second too slow to cause a collision.
If you were injured in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault, the Cookeville car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law can help you get compensation for your medical bills and lost wages.
We know that auto accidents can have devastating consequences that affect you and your family for years to come, but we’ll do everything in our power to minimize the damages and help you move forward with your life.
What Causes Car Accidents?
In our practice, our Cookeville car accident lawyers see certain circumstances causing auto accidents more often than others. These causes include:
Whether they’re texting, talking on the phone, changing CDs or radio stations, or reaching for something inside their cars, distracted drivers pose a huge risk for themselves, their passengers, and other people on the road. Driving while distracted increases the likelihood of causing accidents, as safe driving requires uninterrupted focus on the road and on the movements of other vehicles.
Heavy rain, patches of ice, and windy conditions can all combine to cause auto accidents. When drivers choose to get behind the wheel of their cars during severe weather, it’s their responsibility to make sure they drive safely—which includes driving at a reasonable speed and watching for hazardous road conditions. If someone’s reckless driving during bad weather caused your car accident, he or she may be held responsible for your accident-related expenses.
Auto manufacturers and designers are responsible for making sure their cars are safe to drive and operate in a variety of scenarios and conditions. When a critical component of a car fails, such as the gas pedal, tires, or brakes, the manufacturer and designer can be considered liable for any injuries and damages if the malfunctions cause an auto accident.
Drinking alcohol, using illicit drugs, or taking certain prescription medications can cause drowsiness, impaired judgment and vision, and risk-taking behavior that can lead to auto accidents. When drunk drivers cause accidents, they’re not the only ones who can be held responsible for the damages caused to other drivers and passengers, as the restaurant or bar that served them may also be held liable for supplying alcohol—especially if the driver appeared to already be intoxicated before leaving the premises.
Speeding, running red lights, failure to yield, and tailgating are all traffic violations for a reason—they’re all behaviors that are likely to cause car accidents. Drivers who choose to break the law when driving put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk every time they get behind the wheel. In addition to being fined or even arrested for breaking the law, these drivers and their insurance providers are often responsible for paying the medical bills and lost wages of the people they injure.
These are just a few of the most common causes of auto accident claims that our Cookeville auto accident attorneys handle on a daily basis. No matter what caused your car accident, we can investigate it and then put our years of experience to work as we build a case that will maximize your chances of getting compensation.
Call us today at (615) 200-1111 or fill out free online form to get in touch with our legal team.
