5 common causes of catastrophic crashes

Car crashes can happen in the blink of an eye. In one minute, you can be thinking about the fastest way to get home from work; in the next minute, you can be fighting for your life on the side of the road.

Besides getting immediate medical attention, identifying the cause of any crash should be a top priority for crash victims and their families. Determining cause can establish liability, which can provide the basis for a personal injury claim. Some causes of crashes are far more common than others are. Below, we examine five of the more common causes of accidents.

1. Careless or reckless driving: According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this was the leading cause of fatal crashes in North Carolina between 2009 and 2013. This includes behaviors known to be dangerous, though not necessarily intending to cause harm.
2. Negligent driving: Failure to stay in the proper lane, over-correcting, making improper turns and driving on the wrong side of the road are all types of negligent driving behaviors that pose a threat to others.
3. Drunk driving: Intoxicated drivers have slowed reflexes, impaired cognitive function and visual limitations, which makes them extremely dangerous behind the wheel.
4. Speeding: Speed limits are set to reflect the speed at which it is safe to drive under ideal conditions on specific roads. Simply put, driving too fast is an easy to get into a catastrophic accident.
5. Bad weather: While we can’t control the weather, we can control how we drive when roads and weather conditions are poor. People who fail to slow down, turn on their lights and give others plenty of space run the risk of causing an accident.

If any of these five factors play a role in an accident, then there is a very real possibility that victims have grounds to file a legal claim seeking compensation from another party, including careless, reckless drivers.

Accident victims and their families should not have to pay the price for the unsafe behaviors of others. To protect yourself and collect the financial remedies you deserve, it can be a wise to consult a competent personal injury attorney and examine your legal options.