Auto/Vehicle
8 Car Accident Stats That Will Make You More Cautious While Driving
Car accidents are one of America’s most significant causes of preventable death. Therefore, it is essential to take note of the different stats that can help us make safer and more informed driving decisions. To succeed in a claim petition, gathering evidence to support your case is essential. Evidence you need in a car accident claim can include the following:
Evidence of negligence: To hold another party accountable for a car accident, you need proof that they were negligent. It includes both direct and circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence is anything that puts the other party in control of the incident. On the other hand, circumstantial evidence involves any behavior considered careless or reckless.
Witnesses – Eyewitness accounts can help substantiate a claim petition. You must provide details about your witnesses, such as their names and contact numbers. Moreover, it is essential to note if they are co-workers, relatives, or strangers who witnessed the incident.
8 Car Accident Stats That Will Make You More Cautious While Driving
1. Seat Belts save lives
While airbags protect you from being thrown around the car, they don’t keep you from smashing into things inside the vehicle. Seat belts, however, are designed to hold you in place when there’s an impact.
2. Traveling at night is more dangerous
People don’t usually associate night driving with car accidents; they wonder about drinking, driving, or speeding. But a report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that fatal crashes are more common at night: 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., crashes spike 27%. AAA estimates that 40,000 people are injured during that period each year.
3. Distracted driving can be deadly
Drivers who fiddle with the radio or talk on a cell phone have a higher risk of crashing – especially if they get too fixated on their mobile devices and don’t notice what’s happening on the road around them.
4. Distracted driving can lead to an accident, even if you’re not at fault
In a crash involving distracted driving, the driver can be charged with a moving violation – even though they are not at fault. The law recognizes that people are “often excessively engrossed in their actions and fail to monitor their surroundings” – as opposed to when they’re focused on the road.
5. Over-the-limit driving is dangerous
Drivers who are intoxicated and too impaired to drive safely are much more likely to get into an accident compared with sober drivers, according to a study in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention. The researchers found that drivers with a BAC of .08 or higher were at least three times more likely to crash than those under the influence but under the legal limit of .08.
6. Driving while drowsy is dangerous
Drivers who get drowsy behind the wheel can be in grave danger. In fact, according to AAA, nearly one-third of crash fatalities involve a driver falling asleep at the wheel – even though about 49% of Americans have said they’ve fallen asleep behind the wheel at some point in their lives, and only 4% admit to doing it frequently.
7. Weather changes can increase the risk of a crash
Weather emergencies can be hazardous for drivers. Even minor weather changes, like rain and snow, can affect visibility – and create conditions in which vehicles skid on wet roads.
8. Drinking increases your risk of a crash
Even if you’re not driving under the influence, drinking on an empty stomach or after drinking alcohol can cause poor skills that make navigating challenging. It can also cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and slurred speech – all of which can make it challenging to go the way you usually would.
Car accidents are common, but they don’t have to happen. Your chances of getting into a crash are more likely during certain times of day if you’ve been drinking or using distractions while driving – and even the weather can be an issue. To avoid these risks, take precautions before you go.