What Are the Main Causes of Car Accidents?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ran a national crash causation survey that looked at the critical reason for each crash, meaning the last thing that went wrong before impact.

It assigned that critical reason like this:

• A driver’s choice or mistake: about 94 percent
• The vehicle itself, like a failed part: about 2 percent
• The road or the weather: about 2 percent (another 2 percent couldn’t be pinned down)

NHTSA is careful to say that isn’t a finding of legal fault. Proving fault is our job. Driver errors can include distracted driving, operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or not being attentive to traffic changes.

Driver Error Contributes to Many Accidents

Distracted driving is one of the principal elements of driver error when examining the reasons for an accident. The NHTSA lists this factor as anything that takes the attention of the driver off the road and onto something else. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the leading causes of distracted driving include:

• Visual distractions, which is anything that takes your attention off the road, such as looking down to answer a text or addressing other passengers
• Physically taking your hand off the wheel to partake in another activity, such as eating or drinking
• Cognitive diversions, where the driver’s mind is on other matters that do not involve driving

If a driver is found to have caused an accident based on driver error, they are likely liable for any injuries or damages they caused.

Vehicular Malfunction Contributes to the Number of Accidents That Occur

Any issue that keeps a vehicle from safely carrying passengers falls in this category. Every year, car manufacturers issue numerous recalls for defective parts that have to be replaced. A recall doesn’t get a manufacturer off the hook. If a defect caused your crash, recall or no recall, the manufacturer can be liable. If a car company knows a part is ineffective and doesn’t issue a recall, it risks being sued for negligence.

However, issues involved in a car’s operation do not solely rest on the company that built it, but can also be tied to the driver’s inability to properly maintain their vehicle. For example, if an accident was caused by a motorist failing to brake in time, and the cause was found to be worn brake pads, this may place negligence on the car’s owner.

Environmental Hazards Can Cause Accidents

Environmental hazards refer to any impediment or obstruction outside of the driver’s control. While the road or weather was the critical reason in only about 2 percent of crashes, the NHTSA noted that the following external factors can cause collisions:

• Slick roadways caused by excessive rain or snow
• Glare from the sun that hinders a driver’s vision
• Debris, either man-made or resulting from a natural occurrence

Determining who can be held responsible in these situations is complicated. Assigning liability in these situations rests on the outcome of an investigation conducted either by law enforcement or a legal professional.

A Lawyer Can Determine Fault Following an Accident

If you or a loved one were involved in a Houston car accident, call us. Our Houston car accident lawyers investigate what caused your crash and who’s responsible for it. From there, your lawyer will need to gather evidence to prove that another party caused your accident and therefore is responsible for your losses.

Evidence can include:

• The police report made at the scene of the accident
• Any available traffic surveillance footage
• Information provided by eyewitnesses
• Statements from medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts
• The damage done to your vehicle; where you were hit can give clues to how your accident occurred

You can help your legal team collect evidence by keeping all documentation relating to your accident. Your medical bills, results of imaging scans, and repair receipts can allow your lawyer to evaluate the extent of your accident. These documents will also allow your legal team to estimate the value of your case so that they may pursue damages that cover your costs.

Call Blass Law Today for Help

Blass Law has the resources you need to pursue compensation. We understand the impact a collision can have on your life and want to hold the accountable party responsible for your losses.

Section 16.003 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code gives you two years from the date of your collision to file a lawsuit. When your accident happened will determine how much longer you have to act. Acting outside of this timeframe will forfeit your right to compensation.

To get started with your confidential case review, call Blass Law today at (713) 664-4000.