Common causes of car accidents

Despite many advancements in vehicle safety, 4,481 Texans died in 2022 as a result of motor vehicle accidents.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents here in Austin include:

Driver Fatigue

Claiming the lives of some 100,000 motorists each year, driver fatigue is not limited to falling asleep at the wheel. Delayed reactions caused by fatigue, or drifting into the adjacent lane can result in a crash that causes severe injuries.

Speeding

Automobile manufacturers listen to their customers. Therefore, as long as consumers want fast cars, manufacturers will continue to produce them, and drivers will continue to speed. Excessive speeding often results in the most tragic of accidents.

Speeding causes more injuries than any other transportation code violation in Austin. Speeding could also contribute to many other negligence cases such as following too closely, lane violations, etc. With speed limits at 85 mph on one of our local highways, it is apparent that when an accident happens, serious injuries usually follow.

A couple of interesting things our clients don’t always know when they’re in an accident caused by speeding:

• 1. If you are a passenger in a speeding car and are involved in a one vehicle accident, you have a claim against your driver.
• 2. You can be negligent by operating a vehicle at a “lower” speed limit than is posted. We have all followed those drivers doing 45mph on a clear highway. These drivers pose a danger to all cars operating at the correct speed limit. If they are the cause of an accident, they could be negligent and you may have a cause of action against the negligent driver.

Weather

Adverse weather conditions courtesy of Mother Nature can make it challenging to see the road. We don’t get much snow here in Central Texas, but conditions such as fog, rain, hail and wind can obscure a driver’s sight and increase the chance of a motor vehicle accident.

Drunk Driving

Sadly, hundreds of thousands of drivers continue to consume alcohol and then get behind the wheel. The main problem with drunk driving is delayed reflexes. Therefore, simple actions such as turning a corner can become difficult and result in a deadly crash.

Distractions

In today’s technology age, drivers are increasingly distracted by cell phones, GPS technology—even their giant drink from Starbucks. Other causes of driver distraction may include rubbernecking, applying makeup, eating, or simply viewing the landscape.

Failure to Yield

Some of the most common car accidents we see in Austin involve rear-end collisions at yield signs. Although there is little literature on the matter it is my opinion that most people entering a yield intersection are so focused on yielding and merging onto oncoming traffic that they forget to stop before colliding with the vehicle in front of them. If you have been a victim of one of these rear-enders you know all too well that the injuries associated with such accidents can have a real impact on your daily life.

Another common accident we see in Austin involves failing to yield the right of way from a left turn. If you have an unprotected left turn then you must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. If you are turning from the middle turning lane (no light) then you must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. It doesn’t matter who hit whom, what matters is that the person who failed to yield will be liable for the other driver’s injuries.

Another common Austin Accident involves Failing to Yield the right of way from a private drive. A private drive can include a house, an apartment, a business, a shopping center, etc. If you are coming out of the private drive, you must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. Whether you are making a left or right turn, the vehicle leaving the private drive must yield the right of way. It doesn’t matter, who hit whom. This is applicable from lesser streets merging onto bigger streets. These type of cases usually involve a stop sign, which has the same effect as a private drive.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident in the Austin, Texas area, please contact us using the form below:

Be sure to check out our article on The Most Dangerous Intersections in Austin (And What We’re Doing About Them!).