Driving is dangerous. You may pay close attention to your driving, but you can never tell what someone else will do when behind the wheel.
Although most crashes are minor, there were 38,800 fatalities in 2019 alone. What are the leading causes of vehicle crashes?
Tied for first
Speeding and drunk driving top the list of troublesome activities that cause vehicle crashes. They are responsible for about a third of all fatal vehicle wrecks. Driving even 5 to 10 miles over the posted speed limit is dangerous. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous because it results in impaired judgment, slower reflexes and reduced visual function.
Distracted driving
Texting or talking on the phone when driving are probably the most commonly cited distractions. However, anything that takes your attention away from the road for more than two seconds is dangerous. Examples include eating, drinking, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio or talking to passengers. Distracted driving causes roughly 16% of all fatal crashes.
Left-turn issues
An astonishing number of crashes involving left-hand turns occur every year. The driver turning left might hit the median, another vehicle or be hit by oncoming traffic. The left-hand turn is one of the leading causes of serious crashes.
Weather conditions
Driving in rainy, snowy, foggy or icy conditions can easily result in a wreck. Approximately 1.2 million weather-related vehicle crashes occur every year.
A look ahead
Given left-hand turns and other dangerous driving behaviors, it is no wonder that many thousands of injuries occur annually. The crash is the first shock. Insurance issues are next, which is why injured victims rely on the help of knowledgeable advocates to negotiate maximum compensation on their behalf.