Although the variety of factors that contribute to serious motor vehicle collisions are almost limitless, a few dangerous driving practices and motor vehicle safety hazards contribute to a disproportionate number of crashes. Our Jackson car accident lawyers recognize that motorists can reduce their probability of being involved in a serious collision that causes injuries or fatalities with a better awareness of risks and practices to avoid. A review of the causes below reveals that although millions of people are injured and tens of thousands of people die annually in traffic collision even though most crashes are preventable.
Alcohol (Drug) Impaired Drivers: Motorists with driving abilities impaired by drugs or alcohol cause approximately one in three traffic-related fatalities annually and injury to hundreds of thousands more. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that an alcohol-impaired driver causes an accident approximately every fifty minutes. While it might be tempting to assume that your risk of being involved in a collision involving an intoxicated driver is relatively low, a third of all motorists will be involved in a collision with an alcohol-impaired driver at some point during their lifetime. Traffic-related deaths and injuries caused by drunk drivers are especially upsetting because the accidents are so easily prevented. Nonetheless, statistics provided by MADD indicate that the average driver will operate a motor vehicle eighty times under the influence of alcohol before an initial drunk driving arrest. The danger posed by drivers impaired by alcohol can hardly be overstated because alcohol and drug intoxication can adversely impact concentration, vision, judgment, reaction time, depth perception, speed estimation, and recognition of spatial relations.
Traveling at an Unsafe Speed: Although many drivers exceed the speed limit on a periodic basis, traveling at an unsafe speed presents a dual threat to roadway safety. The first safety issue linked to driving too fast is that reaction time for engaging in evasive maneuvers or reducing speed to avoid a collision. The second safety issue related to speeding is that the force of impact increases with speed. Whether a driver is traveling at a pace that is unsafe given roadway and traffic conditions or over the posted speed limit, the risk of a crash because of loss of control or inability to react to roadway hazards dramatically increases. The risk of an injury accident can be even more serious when motorists do not reduce their speed in school zones and the vicinity of construction projects.
Lack of Driving Experience: Teen drivers lack the ability to react instinctively to roadway hazards and other unanticipated situations. Newly licensed drivers also lack experience dealing with alcohol, driving distractions, and other factors that compromise the driving ability of all motorists. During a recent one-year period, motor vehicle accidents involving teens claimed the lives of 2,163 teens and resulted in over 243,000 teens being treated in hospital emergency rooms. In other words, auto accidents claim the lives of six teen drivers per day in the U.S. Certain factors raise the risk of novice drivers being involved in a serious crash including driving after dark and transporting teen passengers.
We invite readers to continue reading Part II of this blog post that provides other examples of the types of conduct that cause many car crashes in Mississippi. If you have been injured in an auto accident in Jackson or the surrounding areas, our Mississippi Car Accident Injury Attorneys have successfully represented many victims of careless and distracted drivers. At Barrett Law, we are here to help. Contact our law firm today at (601)790-1505 to schedule your free consultation, so we can answer any questions you may have regarding filing your claim.
