For most people that live in places such as Eugene, Oregon area, owning a car is a necessity. With a vehicle, you will have a much easier time getting around the city and completing daily tasks. While driving is generally safe, there are some risks involved and there is always a chance that you could be involved in an accident. There are a variety of underlying causes of accidents to be aware of. Avoiding these risks as much as possible can help you remain safe when you are behind the wheel.
Distracted Driving
One of the most common causes of vehicle accidents continues to be distracted driving. When someone is behind the wheel of the car, they should be focused on the road. While vehicle distractions have always existed, the use of cell phones and enhanced vehicle features have increased distractions. If a driver is looking at their phone, switching radio stations, or even carrying on a lengthy conversation, they will be less focused on the road. This could lead to someone not stopping their car in time, waiting too long to switch lanes, or making other hazardous decisions that could lead to an accident.
Driving Under the Influence
A very serious violation that can come with severe penalties is driving under the influence of alcohol. If you are under the influence, it will reduce your inhibitions and reaction time. Due to this, you are much more likely to make a poor driving decision or not react to a hazardous situation on time. As this is such a serious risk that people are taking, those caught driving under the influence can face serious penalties that include loss of licensure, financial penalties, and even imprisonment in some cases. Because of this, you should always avoid getting behind the wheel if you have consumed too much alcohol or have taken any type of drug.
Reckless Driving
Anyone that gets behind the wheel of a car should intend to drive safely and follow the rules and best practices in the local area. Unfortunately, there are situations in which someone will drive recklessly and put themselves and all other drivers on the road at risk. Some examples of reckless driving can include driving at excessive speeds, switching lanes abruptly, not using proper signals, and going through traffic lights. Whenever someone acts recklessly, it will be harder for all other motorists to predict and there will be a heightened chance that they could cause a vehicle accident.
Poor Weather
Bad weather will also increase the chance that you are involved in an auto accident. When there is rain, snow, and other hazardous weather, it can impact the road conditions and reduce your visibility. Due to this, drivers will need to reduce their speeds and provide additional spacing between vehicles when they are on the road. Unfortunately, this will not always happen. If drivers do not take the additional precautions in these situations, there is always a chance that they will not be able to stop their vehicle quickly enough, and it could skid and slide on wet or icy roads.
Traffic
Drivers can experience heightened levels of traffic during certain times of the day and year. Traffic can then be made even worse if there is construction or other situations that require a lane to be closed down. Whenever there is traffic, there is a chance that there could be stop-and-go traffic movements, which could require drivers to stop their vehicles suddenly. This is an additional hazard that can increase the risk of an accident.
Driving at Night
Driving a vehicle at night comes with some additional risks and hazards that may not exist during the day. During the night, people tend to be able to see less clearly and could be tired. Further, there is a risk that a motorist will not turn their lights on, which can make them even harder to see. Because of these challenges and risks, there is a higher risk of being involved in an accident when you are driving a car at night.
Mechanical Failures
Another cause of vehicle accidents is if a driver experiences mechanical failure. As vehicles can drive at high speeds, all people place a lot of reliance on their brakes and other safety systems. If your brakes wear down or fail, it could preclude you from stopping fast enough. This could then cause an accident. Due to this, it is important that all drivers properly maintain and repair their vehicles and have any issues fixed before getting on the road.
Lack of Experience
Most people will start driving cars when they are teenagers. While you are legally able to drive a car at this age, it can take a long time to learn how to drive properly, particularly in more challenging situations. Those that are inexperienced or unfamiliar with certain areas of driving conditions are more likely to make poor decisions, which could result in a vehicle accident. Due to this, young and inexperienced drivers should be careful about when and where they are driving.
Reasons to Hire an Attorney
If you are involved in an auto accident, you could suffer injuries or vehicle damage. As there are financial and other losses involved with an accident, it is important to ensure that you receive the support and compensation that you are entitled to. An auto accident attorney can help ensure that this happens. When you first engage an attorney, they will provide a full consultation on your case and then can handle any deliberations and settlement negotiations with the other parties and insurance companies involved.
According to stronglawattorneys.com, if you are injured during a car accident or have incurred serious damage to your vehicle, an attorney can clearly help. When you are looking for legal support in this area, make sure you hire professionals that will get the job done. The legal team here will offer you a full suite of legal services that will help ensure you are properly represented and receive the fair compensation that you are entitled to. This will also ensure that you are able to relax and focus on your recovery from any injuries sustained.
