Causes of Accidents

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Simple changes in behavior while behind the wheel of a car can make a big difference in saving lives and preventing car accident-related injuries. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2016, 11,501 people in New York were seriously injured with 1,025 people losing their lives in car crashes.

At William Mattar law offices, we want you to be aware of some of the leading causes of car accidents and to be a part of the solution moving forward.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving accounted for 391,000 people injured in car crashes in New York in 2015, according to the (CDC). According to the NHTSA, in 2018 alone, an estimated 2,841 people were killed in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers.

Types of Distracted Driving

What is distracted driving? Distracted driving defines any activity that can take the driver’s attention off the road. Types of distracted driving include:

• Texting and Driving: Texting while driving poses a great danger to people on the road. Texting behind the wheel was outlawed in New York in 2009. Since then, instances of texting and driving have decreased significantly throughout the state.
• Using Cell Phones, GPS, or Other Electronic Devices: The penalties for cell phone use while driving continue to increase in severity. In 2011, a new law was passed in New York that made it a primary traffic offense to use a handheld electronic device to text or talk while driving. Violators of this law can be fined up to $150.
• Eating or Drinking: Eating or drinking can be just as dangerous as cell phone use. According to an article from CBS-New York News, a study conducted at a British university examined the reaction times of participants who were operating a driving simulator while trying to eat or drink. Researchers concluded that individuals attempting to eat had a 44 percent slower reaction time than those who were not. For comparison, texting and driving resulted in motorists having 37 percent slower reaction times.
• Talking to Passengers or Tending to Children: Interacting with passengers or children in your car can be a type of distraction. Looking away for even one second could lead to a car accident.

Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is an inexcusable act, as it not only puts the driver at a high risk of injury, but also everyone else on the road around them.

Drunk driving is the number one cause of death on our roadways, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. These car accidents may involve alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription drugs. Driving under the influence with another occupant in the vehicle, such as a passenger or child, is an especially egregious offense.

Drunk Driving Prevention

According to the CDC, almost 29 people die every day in the U.S. as a result of a  drunk driving car crash. If you’re an alcohol-impaired driver, you are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident. A BAC (blood alcohol content) level of just .02 percent (about 2 alcoholic drinks) can negatively affect your ability to drive safely. The CDC has provided safety tips to prevent instances of drunk driving:

• Designate a non-drinking driver when going out with a group of people;
• Don’t let your friends drive impaired;
• If you’ve been drinking or using drugs, find a ride home or call a taxi; and
• If you’re hosting a party, look after your friends and ensure they get home safe.

New York has some of the toughest drunk driving laws in the nation. In 2009, the New York legislature passed Leandra’s Law, making it a class E felony (punishable by up to four years in prison) to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol with a child under age 15 in the car. The law is named after an 11-year-old girl who lost her life as a result of intoxicated driving.

Drowsy Driving

Did you know that being drowsy can impair driving just as much as drinking alcohol? In fact, according to the CDC, going 18 hours without sleep is equal to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, which gives you an equal risk of causing a car crash as someone who is legally drunk.

Causes of Drowsy Driving

The NHTSA reports that as many as 100,000 motor vehicle collisions are attributed to drowsy driving every year. With drowsy driving as one of the leading causes of car crashes today, many researchers are studying what causes drivers to get tired behind the wheel. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Sleep Disorders: Sleep apnea is a condition in which sleep is interrupted due to oxygen supplies being cut off as the result of an obstructed airway. As many as 20 percent of Americans suffer from the condition, yet an estimated 90 percent of cases go undiagnosed.
• Age: Compared to adults, teens face a higher risk of being involved in a drowsy driving accident.
• Medications: Prescriptions for sleeping pills have increased over the past several decades and present a serious motor vehicle accident risk. Research has shown these medications can increase crash risks by anywhere between 27-91 percent.

Symptoms of Drowsy Driving

It is important to be aware of signs that you are getting tired. These symptoms can show up before you even begin to feel sleepy, but they indicate that you are at risk for falling asleep at any time. According to the National Sleep Foundation, signs that you are getting tired and should stop driving and rest include:

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
• Daydreaming, wandering/disconnected thoughts
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven, missing exits or traffic signs
• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
• Trouble keeping your head up
• Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
• Feeling restless and irritable

How do you avoid drowsiness while driving? Before you set out on a long drive, the National Sleep Foundation recommends you should make sure to get 7-9 hours of sleep, travel with a passenger who can help keep you alert, stop every 100 miles or every two hours, and avoid alcohol and medications.

Speeding

Putting the pedal to the metal tends to include dangerous behavior such as failing to keep right, failing to yield, following and passing too closely, as well as unsafe lane changing. It’s simple: the faster you drive, the more you put yourself and those around you at risk of a serious car accident.

Increased awareness and improved law enforcement have helped decrease speeding in New York. Despite these measures, in 2010, 95 percent of drivers killed in fatal New York car crashes were in speeding vehicles. Slowing down can help save hundreds of lives each year.

According to the NHTSA, a study has shown that nearly half of all motorists who were recently surveyed stated they believe speeding is a serious problem on U.S. roadways. However, an estimated 20 percent of these same individuals responded yes to the survey question: “I try to get where I am going as fast as I can” while driving.

More than 25 percent of respondents stated that speeding is something that they do without thinking, and another 16 percent felt that driving above the speed limit was not dangerous if the driver is skilled.

Vehicle Defects

When car manufacturers and their suppliers produce unsafe products, even the safest drivers can become car accident injury victims.

Does My Car Have a Recall?

The SaferCar.gov website provides a vehicle identification number (VIN) tool to help car owners find out if their vehicle is under a recall. By entering the VIN number assigned to your vehicle, you can learn if that vehicle has been subject to a recall in the last 15 years. This VIN tool also covers incomplete safety recalls and recalls involving manufacturers of motorcycles.

Alternately, the VIN search tool will not give information about why a safety recall exists, recalls involving international vehicles, and safety recalls over 15 years old.

The NHTSA lists the following as examples of vehicle defects considered unsafe (taken directly from NHTSA website):

• Steering components that break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control.
• Problems with fuel system components, particularly in their susceptibility to crash damage, that result in leakage of fuel and possibly cause vehicle fires.
• Accelerator controls that may break or stick.
• Wheels that crack or break, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
• Engine cooling fan blades that break unexpectedly causing injury to persons working on a vehicle.
• Windshield wiper assemblies that fail to operate properly.
• Seats and/or seat backs that fail unexpectedly during normal use.
• Critical vehicle components that break, fall apart, or separate from the vehicle, causing potential loss of vehicle control or injury to persons inside or outside the vehicle.
• Wiring system problems that result in a fire or loss of lighting.
• Car ramps or jacks that may collapse and cause injury to someone working on a vehicle.
• Air bags that deploy under conditions for which they are not intended to deploy.

Examples of vehicle defects that are not considered a safety issue, according to the NHTSA include:

• Broken radios or air conditioners.
• Ordinary wear and tear of vehicle components that owners should have inspected and maintained periodically.
• Body or nonstructural rust/inferior paint quality/blemishes.
• Excessive consumption of oil by a vehicle.

GM Ignition Recall Accidents

General Motors has recalled tens of millions of vehicles produced from 1997-2014 due to defective ignition components. Visit our GM Ignition Recall Accidents page to find out if your vehicle was affected, and how we can help if you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a recalled GM vehicle.

Weather

Inclement weather can make driving more difficult. Rain, hail, snow, ice, fog, and even high winds are signals for you to slow down and leave extra room between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Hazardous Weather Car Accident Prevention

Some tips to help prevent weather related car crashes include:

1. Don’t Drive If Possible: The safest option is to stay home if you don’t have to be on the roads during hazardous weather. Rain makes roads slick and late fall showers can freeze rather quickly. Winter storms may result in hazards besides snow and ice, including fallen branches or power lines. Windy storms may leave in debris on the road.
2. Know The Conditions: If you must travel during snow, sleet, or freezing rain, you should check the road conditions for the route you plan to travel. Localconditions.com can give you up-to-date traffic reports for any major city in the U.S.
3. Be Prepared: If you have to drive in hazardous weather, it is vital to take the steps needed to ensure safe travels. Along with checking the weather and road conditions, make sure your vehicle is in good condition. Tires should have plenty of tread and windshield wipers should be able to keep a clear line of vision. Remember to pack emergency supplies, including food and water, blankets, flashlights, and spare batteries.
4. Let Someone Know Where You’re Going: Before leaving, tell a loved one your route and estimated travel time, so the authorities can be contacted to look for signs of a car accident if you fail to reach your destination.

Teenage Drivers

When a teenager gets their driver’s license, it can be one of the most joyous days of their lives. However, it can also be one of the most dangerous times in their lives. Many teen drivers face a significant risk when getting behind the wheel due to lack of education on the dangers of driving.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles says teen and young drivers may only make up 12 percent of all licensed drivers in the state, but they account for as much as 20 percent of individuals in car accidents.

Teen Driver Education

According to an article from WGRZ News, The Resource Training Center is encouraging parents to talk with their teens about driving risks, and why they should always remember to abide by the “5 To Drive” rules. To help reduce the number of car crashes teens are involved in, The Resource Training Center’s rules state that teens should never:

• Use cell phones while driving;
• Carry extra passengers;
• Speed;
• Ride without a seat belt; and
• Drive under the influence.

Construction

Car crashes can happen anywhere, but one of the most likely places for a serious collision is in highway construction zones.

In 2005, state legislators passed the Work Zone Safety Act that doubled fines for speeding in work zones. Furthermore, the law mandates that anyone who receives two speeding tickets in a work zone will have their license suspended.

Construction Zone Driving Safety

The New York Department of Transportation is also offering several safety tips to help prevent work zone crashes in spring and summer, as highway construction projects begin across the state. These tips include:

• Slow Down: Slowing down gives a driver more reaction time to maneuver in the event of an emergency.
• Drive Defensively: Expect the unexpected and allow other drivers an appropriate amount of space.
• Obey Signage: Flaggers in construction zones have the same authority as a marked sign and all directions they give should be followed. It is also important to read all signage in construction zones.

Animals

Animals, such as deer, can be unpredictable and hard to see while driving. The peak period for car accidents involving deer is fall. The deer’s annual breeding season typically peaks from October to December. During this season, deer are more active and less cautious around roadways.

In the United States, more than a million car crashes occur annually involving deer. These accidents cause more than 200 fatalities. Remember to look out for deer on highways, especially in dim conditions.

Aggressive Driving

Many aggressive driving behaviors are unsafe and illegal.

Types of Aggressive Driving

Aggressive drivers put themselves and others on the road at risk of serious car accident injuries. Examples of aggressive driving include:

• Tailgating;
• Failure To Yield;
• Running Red Lights / Stop Signs;
• Speeding; and
• Weaving.

Dealing With An Aggressive Driver

It is important to deal with an aggressive driver in a rational and calm manner. Avoid retaliation and consider the consequences of your potential actions. If an aggressive driver follows you, stay in your car, lock your doors, and wait for help to arrive. Some safety tips for dealing with an aggressive driver to include:

• Wear your seat belt;
• Don’t “play their game”;
• Ignore honking and rude gestures; and
• Contact the police if you can do so safely.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON THE ROAD

Many car crashes are preventable. Using safe driving practices could save your life or the life of another person. To stay safe on the road, the car accident injury attorneys at William Mattar suggest taking three simple precautions while driving: put down the phone, avoid speeding and aggressive driving, and don’t drink and drive.

Thanks to enforcement programs and the passage of distracted driving laws, the roads in our state are slowly getting safer. In New York, the rate of motor vehicle accident fatalities has decreased from 3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001 to 1.2 in 2014. Unfortunately, statistics show that several hundred people in New York State still lose their lives in car crashes each year. We urge drivers to slow down and give their undivided attention to the road while driving.

HURT IN A CAR? CALL WILLIAM MATTAR.

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We have more than two decades of experience helping car crash injury victims throughout New York State. If you have been injured because of one of the common causes of car accidents, contact the car accident attorneys at William Mattar today. Call (844) 444 - 4444 or complete a free initial consultation form now.