No matter how careful and experienced a driver you are, outside factors can cause you to become involved in a serious car accident. Depending on the type of accident, you could face severe injury, costly vehicle damage, and long-term quality of life issues.
Common Car Accidents: Distracted Drivers
Ask any Chicago auto accident attorney and they will likely tell you that the most common car accidents they see are caused by driver distraction. The latest distractions come from the use of cell phones and texting while driving. This cause has become so rampant that many states, including Illinois, have adopted laws restricting drivers from using cell phones while driving.
Other common driver distractions can come from:
- Passengers in the car;
- Loud music or adjusting the radio;
- Eating;
- Shifting cargo; and
- Staring at roadside distractions (accidents, scenery, etc.).
The most common distraction after cell phones is the tendency for drivers to look at other accidents. It’s amazing how many common car accidents are caused by drivers looking at OTHER accidents.
Common Car Accidents: Driver Impairment
Another common car accident cause is driver impairment: intoxication from alcohol or other substances. Even legally prescribed medications and some over the counter medications can cause changes in reaction time, vision, or mental capabilities. If a driver is not able to give 100% of their focus to the road and controlling their vehicle, they increase the likelihood of causing an accident.
Driver fatigue is another issue that can damage the ability for a driver to maintain good control of their vehicle. A fatigued driver is a danger not only to themselves but to those around them. Many common car accidents are caused by a driver’s slowed reaction time or even falling asleep at the wheel. The majority of driver fatigue accidents occur between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m.
Medical and emotional abnormalities can also be a large contributing factor to common car accidents.
Drivers should avoid operating their vehicles when they are not feeling well, but many car accidents are caused by sudden and unforeseen medical problems. Emotional distress is also a contributing factor to many common car accidents – when a driver is upset or angry they are more likely to be distracted and not keep their attention on their driving.
