Getting into an accident is not fun at all. Whether the accident was minor or severe, accidents drastically change a person’s life. No matter what or how the accident happened, car wrecks are stressful, frustrating, and painful experiences. They are accompanied by harmful effects like property damage, medical bills, severe injuries, and lost wages.
Many accidents that happen are avoidable, and others are unavoidable. Car accidents are categorized into accidents caused by human error and things unrelated to human error. Most accidents are caused by careless driving, distracted driving, and disregard for safety. Driving carefully, paying full attention to the road, and prioritizing safety prevent accidents.
Causes of Car Accidents Unrelated to Human Error
Careful drivers follow all the rules while driving but end up finding themselves in accidents through other factors. These other factors include;
Road Conditions
Poorly maintained roads have potholes, uneven road surfaces, sinkholes, broken concrete, exposed rebar, and road cracks. Large potholes may affect the driver’s ability to brake adequately and end up popping a tire making the vehicle swerve into another lane and colliding with another car.
Vehicle Defects
Vehicles may fail drivers in unexpected ways. The brakes may stop working, a tire may blow out, or even steering malfunctions while you are in the middle of the road, and it may be catastrophic. Accidents caused by vehicle defects may be caused by either a parts manufacturer or a careless mechanic who ended up putting you in a dangerous situation unknowingly.
Weather Conditions
Roads tend to be slippery when it is rainy, snowy, or covered with ice. They affect traction in tires, thus causing cars to slide off the road and hit objects, people on the road, or even other vehicles. Weather-related accidents may also be caused by fog, water levels, and speed.
Causes of Car Accidents Due to Human Error
Distracted Driving
Human brains are incapable of concentrating on two tasks at the same time. When a driver shifts his attention to texting, driving, eating, or having stressful thoughts while driving, he may lose focus on what’s ahead and cause an accident.
Intoxicated Driving
A person that drives while intoxicated with alcohol or drugs is a danger to himself and others. Drinking dulls your senses and cognitive functions, thus compromising your ability to make decisions and slowing down your reaction times while driving. One should call a sober person to be driven home to avoid intoxicated driving.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Drivers should drive consciously and know what’s going on around them. It is important not to drive while upset, but calm; overspeeding, excessive lane changes, and behaving aggressively while driving can cause fatal crashes.
Running Traffic Signals
Serious accidents happen when drivers fail to stop at a red light or stop sign, and in case you don’t cause an accident, you may get arrested and pay heavy fines.
Tailgating
Keeping a safe distance from other vehicles is essential because it gives you time to react to abrupt changes.