As summer comes, so will an increase in fatal car accidents. As a result, now is a good time to review some of the most common causes of deadly car accidents in the hopes that it can help reduce the chance that you will be involved in one. If you suffer injuries in a car accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
Speeding is a Top Cause of Fatal Car Accidents
Speeding is both a top cause of car accidents and a top cause of fatalities in car accidents. In fact, about 30% of all car accidents are attributed to speeding. In most cases, speeding-related accidents occur on roads with speed limits higher than 55 MPH. The faster a vehicle is moving, the harder it is to stop and the longer it takes to react to an emergency.
Not only does speeding increase the chance of an accident occurring, but it greatly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a car accident. The faster a vehicle is traveling at the time of impact, the more likely it is that there will be a catastrophic result.
Drunk Driving Deaths Occur Every Hour
Driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol can significantly impair a person’s judgment and ability to drive safely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 28 people die every day in a car accident. That equates to more than one per hour. In the last ten years alone, more than 113,000 fatal car accidents have been caused by drunk driving.
Distracted Driving
It might seem that every news outlet is talking about distracted driving so much that it is something you rarely hear anymore. We would strongly recommend that you pay attention because distracted driving results in more than one million car accidents every year. Distracted driving is more than just texting or talking on the phone while driving, it also refers to adjusting the radio station, eating, or even talking.
Weather Issues
While weather-related car accidents are not as common in California as they are in many other states in the country, that does not mean that they do not occur. Nationwide, about one in four car accidents are related to weather conditions, including rain, fog, or snow.
Running Red Lights
You would be hard-pressed to find a person who truly has never tried to get through a yellow light before it turns red and ended up running the red light. This is a serious issue that is definitely not worth the risk. Every year, an average of more than 700 people lose their lives in red-light-related car accidents.
If you have been injured in a car accident or lost a loved one in this type of accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
