According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, there are an estimated 1.3 million deaths related to auto crashes each year. When broken down, that comes out to 3,287 deaths each and every day—many of which could have been avoided.
Keep yourself, your loved ones, and your fellow travelers safe by checking out these 5 common types of auto crashes and how you can avoid them.
Distracted Driving
Be honest, how often do you use your cell phone while driving? Whether you’re making a quick call, texting back a friend, or doing something as innocent as changing your playlist to your favorite song, distracted driving can be life threatening.
It only takes a moment to cause a potentially fatal wreck. In fact, distracted driving is such a major issue that Texas lawmakers made texting and driving illegal as of September 1, 2017.
No text message is worth risking your life for. Save it until you’re home or you can safely pull over.
Driving under the Influence
You’ve just had a great night out with your friends. You reminisced about the good old days over a few beers, and now it’s time to go home.
But before you get behind the wheel of your car, stop to consider how dangerous driving under the influence can be. Your reaction time is dramatically shortened after even 1 alcoholic beverage.
Play it smart by calling an Uber or Lyft. You’ll avoid possible jail time and will have a guaranteed safe ride home.
Speeding
While some modern causes of car accidents, such as texting while driving, seem to get the majority of the spotlight, don’t forget about simple hazards like driving dangerously fast.
The speed limit is there for a reason and needs to be followed.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s findings, speeding is the cause of 27% of all auto crashes, racking up an average of 10,111 deaths.
Remember that next time you’re running late. It’s better to arrive a few minutes late than to not arrive at all.
Failure to Adhere to Traffic Laws
Whether it’s a stop sign, traffic light, or caution to yield, traffic laws are in place to keep drivers safe. But the fact of the matter remains that some people view them as optional.
Be vigilant when you’re behind the wheel and pay attention to oncoming traffic, as well as traffic signs and traffic lights. Look both ways, even if you have the right of way. Just because you follow traffic laws doesn’t mean that your fellow drivers will.
Improper Lane Change
Lane changes are a common occurrence, especially in large and bustling cities. But failing to signal a lane change can cause quite the problem.
If you’re not consistently using your signal, your fellow drivers have no idea that you need to get over. This can cause a whole slew of injuries, particularly on the interstate.
Be smart: Always use your blinkers when changing lanes.
Arrive Alive: Avoid These Common Causes of Auto Crashes
Driving can be a fun, relaxing experience. Unfortunately, it can also be quite dangerous for several of the reasons you’ve seen above.
If you’ve experienced one of these common causes of auto crashes and sustained an injury in the process, get in touch with Kastl Law. Let’s make it right.
While we can’t go back and undo the accident, we can do everything in our power to get you the justice you deserve. So don’t wait, contact us today.