Cause Of Traffic Collisions And How To Avoid Them

Cause Of Traffic Collisions And How To Avoid Them

In the United States of America (USA), traffic collisions are an unfortunate and unwanted side effect of driving on the roads.

The vast majority of these collisions are caused by driver error and so if some certain precautions are taken, they can be prevented from happening in the future. However, in order to be able to do this,

it is important to know why traffic collisions are happening in the first place. Some of the most common causes of traffic collisions include the following:

Potholes in the road

Whilst most of the time these hazards in the road can be avoided, sometimes this is simply not the case and a driver cannot do anything but go straight over one.

However, doing this is not good for any vehicle and so they should be driven around if at all possible.

Doing this may even prevent you from being in a traffic collision as hitting a pothole can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle.

Poor weather conditions

Although driving in unfavourable weather conditions is something that cannot always be avoided, the roads do become much more hazardous when wet or icy so it is important that drivers take extra care when faced with these types of weather.

Where possible, pull over and wait for the weather conditions to improve before continuing driving. 

Getting too close to other vehicles

Driving too closely behind the vehicle in front is known as tailgating and can be extremely dangerous.

This is why it should never be done, no matter how slow the driver in front is going. It is important to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front at all times, as it provides more time to react to any sudden actions, such as braking or turning, of the driver in front.

Driving whilst distracted

This is the main cause of traffic collisions in the USA and is increasing in regularity year on year.

The conditions on the road can change at any moment and so it is important that drivers are paying attention to what is around them at all times.

In order to avoid being distracted whilst driving, do not use a cell phone, do not eat, do not read anything, do not put on make up or perform any other grooming techniques, or talk whilst driving. 

Driving at night time

Due to the little visibility that there is at night time, it makes the act of driving much more difficult than what it is during the day time.

Whenever driving during the night it is important that an extra level of care is taken. In order to avoid being involved in a traffic collision, the vehicle lights should be used and fully when on those country roads where there are no streetlights to illuminate the road.

Having vehicle problems

Experiencing some sort of mechanical issue with a vehicle can have a devastating impact and lead to a traffic collision occurring.

For instance, when a tyre all of a sudden blows out, it can have the effect of making a driver swerve out into the middle of the road or off of the road completely. Where something like this does happen,

it is important to try and remain calm in order to avoid being involved in a traffic collision. As soon as something like this happens, call for assistance as soon as possible.

Running red lights

Whilst thi is an obvious thing not to do and is breaking the law, it is surprising how many drivers in the USA still do this on a regular basis.

The red light at a traffic stop always means come to a stop. This is true even if it seems to be the case that no other vehicles are coming.

No matter how much of a rush that someone is in, there is no excuse to ever run a red light as doing this can very likely lead to a traffic collision happening.

Driving whilst under the influence

Ingesting either or both drugs and alcohol and then deciding to drive is not only illegal but extremely dangerous also.

Whilst most drivers think that this only is true for illicit drugs, it is actually true for many everyday prescribed drugs as they can have unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects, such as drowsiness and / or nausea.

Never drive whilst under the influence of any substance that affects alertness.

Driving too fast

Whilst it can sometimes be tempting to drive above and beyond the speed limit for a particular stretch of road, especially when running late for something, speeding is highly dangerous and should never be done.

In fact, it is the second leading cause of traffic collisions in the USA. In order to avoid becoming a statistic, drivers should never drive too fast, no matter what the situation is. 

Animal crossings

Animals on the road pose a real danger to drivers, especially large animals, such as bears, deers and elks. This is why it is so important that drivers take extra care whenever they see an animal crossing sign.

When coming across one of these signs at night, make sure that high beam lights are used. This should also be done when driving through more rural areas or woodlands. 

Teenage drivers

The younger a driver is, the less experience they have behind the wheel. This means that they are less likely to know what to do in problematic situations, thus are more likely to cause a traffic collision. 

If you have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a traffic collision then it is likely to be the case that you require legal assistance of some type or another. Where this is the case, get in contact with the expert team at the Tate Law Offices.

They will be able to help you with your case and do everything that they can in order to ensure that you are awarded with the level of compensation that you deserve for the damages and injuries that occurred.