Causes of Car Accidents in Yakima, MS

What Are the Leading Causes of Car Accidents?

Common causes of car accidents in Yakima that often result in serious injuries or death include:

Speeding

Speeding is a contributing factor in 32 percent of all fatal crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA). Driving too fast is unsafe, makes it much harder to avoid accidents and increases the severity of the resulting injuries if an accident occurs. It’s also against the law.

Impaired driving

Impaired driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs injures and kills. NHTSA reports that alcohol is involved in 31 percent of fatal crashes. People or businesses that serve alcohol to an obviously drunk driver could also be held liable under dram shop laws.

Distracted driving

Distracted driving, defined as anything that takes a driver’s eyes or focus off the road, is a growing problem as more people try to multitask and use cell phones and other devices while driving. According to NHTSA, 9 percent of fatal crashes and 18 percent of injury crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.

Driver fatigue

Many drivers choose to get behind the wheel even when they are too tired to safely operate a vehicle. NHTSA estimates that 100,000 injury accidents each year are caused by driver fatigue, causing 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses.

Disobeying traffic signals or signs

It’s important to comply with signs and follow the rules of the road. Motorists count on other drivers to obey traffic lights and stop signs to avoid accidents and ensure traffic flow.

Aggressive driving

Aggressive driving is a leading cause of car accidents, significantly increasing the risk of collisions and resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. Aggressive drivers often disregard traffic laws and the safety of others, creating hazardous conditions on the road. It’s crucial for drivers to remain calm and patient to prevent accidents caused by aggressive driving.

Following too closely

Following too closely decreases a driver’s ability to react to an unexpected or dangerous situation ahead. Tailgating can often lead to rear-end crashes.

Other driving mistakes

Many accidents are caused by other types of careless or negligent driving, including making improper lane changes, failing to yield right of way, driving on the wrong side of the road and failing to signal before turning.

Need More Information About Common Causes of Car Accidents in Yakima?

Our Yakima car accident lawyers from our legal firm Mariano Morales Law can help you. Call us at (509) 853-2222.