In the United States, traffic accidents are to blame for more than 35,000 fatalities and countless other injuries every year. The causes of auto accidents and the ways to avoid them aren’t often discussed. After all, the majority of avoidable deaths in this nation are caused by automobile accidents.
Accidents can dramatically change a person’s life and may cause financial loss, suffering, or long-term impairments. There are several risks on the road, including those brought on by other drivers, poor road conditions, bad weather, bad highway design, and automobiles. We asked these St. Louis car accident attorneys to provide us with the leading causes of car accidents in St. Louis, this article outlines their findings.
Car Accident Statistics:
During the pandemic, traffic-related accidents had climbed upto 12% statewide. More than 90% of these collisions were caused by someone making a simple mistake, most frequently driving too fast, driving while distracted, or driving while intoxicated. Many of the fatalities were not using seat belts. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported over 14,000 accidents in a year on the city’s roads.
Among these collisions were:
- 81 people lost their lives in St. Louis car accidents out of 76 fatal collisions overall.
- 6,139 persons were hurt in 3,892 personal injury accidents.
- More than 10,000 accidents were reported with property damage.
Common Causes:
Other drivers’ driving behaviors are among the most frequent reasons for car accidents. These risky actions consist of:
Distracted Driving:
A lot of drivers are unaware of their surroundings. This typically occurs due to cell phone use for texting or conversing. Other sources of distraction for drivers include passengers, radio, food, and other electronic devices. One of the most troubling causes of auto accidents is texting and driving.
Speeding:
One of the main factors contributing to auto accidents is aggressive driving. These include driving too fast for the conditions, tailgating, deliberately disregarding traffic signs, and failing to cede the right of way. Speeding results in collisions and worsens the harm. It is essential to hold speeding drivers accountable when they endanger other drivers’ safety and cause injuries.
Driver Fatigue:
Driving when fatigued is never a good idea and increases your chance of getting into a crash that could have been prevented. Choosing to drive when you are not alert may subject the driver to legal repercussions. Drowsiness or simply being weary from not getting enough sleep can both cause driver fatigue.
Poor Weather:
Intense weather can make driving practically difficult and is regularly the cause of auto accidents. Heavy rain, sleet, or snow can also impact a vehicle’s performance. Skidding vehicles on the slippery pavement is a hazardous mix that can result in fatalities, especially at a busy crossroads where traffic moves in both directions constantly. Extreme weather can also limit a driver’s field of vision and interfere with their ability to calculate distance and speed.
Drunk Driving:
Driving when intoxicated is difficult and makes it hard for the mind to focus on the road most of the time. Decision-making, reaction time, and coordination are all hampered by drunk driving. Criminal charges may be brought against drunk drivers who cause accidents, and punitive damages may be awarded in a civil action.
Final Thoughts:
Accidents can also be brought on by flaws in the cars or roadways and careless drivers. When faulty road design or poor road maintenance is to blame for an accident victim’s injuries, an attorney can assist in bringing governmental liability claims. In cases where a fault rendered a car or truck unsuitable for use, lawyers can also defend injured parties in product liability lawsuits against automobile and truck manufacturers.
