5 “Hidden” Causes of Car Accidents
When pursuing an injury claim after a car accident, you need to know the cause of the collision. If you do not know the cause, you do not know who (or what) was at fault, and this means you do not know whose insurance company is responsible for your losses.
In some situations, the cause of an accident will be relatively clear. For example, if you were rear-ended by a speeding driver while driving within the confines of the law, it is a safe bet that his or her excessive speed was a primary factor in causing the accident. But, in many cases, it is not clear what happened, and it takes a thorough investigation to uncover a “hidden” cause of the collision.
Investigating the Unknown Cause of a Vehicle Collision
The following are all common causes of car accidents that may not be apparent without an investigation:
1. Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is among the leading causes of auto accidents in the United States. Each year, distracted drivers cause hundreds of thousands of accidents (nearly 400,000 in 2015), and thousands of upstanding drivers and passengers lose their lives as a result of others’ decisions to talk, text and use social media behind the wheel. Along with phone use (both handheld and hands-free), common driving distractions include:
· Eating and drinking
· Personal grooming
· Reading books, maps and e-readers
· Setting and reading GPS directions
· Setting music playlists
2. Drowsy Driving
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 48 percent of all drivers nod off while driving between the hours of 9:00pm and 6:00am. But, even when drowsy drivers stay awake, the effects of fatigue can cause driving impairments similar to those of alcohol consumption.
3. Alcohol Consumption
While we all know the dangers of drinking and driving, many people — far too many — continue to put others’ lives at risk by driving while impaired. Although some drunk drivers will be visibly intoxicated, it takes far less alcohol to impair someone’s driving abilities than it does to give them slurred speech and an unsteady gait on the side of the road.
4. Drug Use
Illegal substances, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications can all interfere with drivers’ cognitive and manual abilities. Drivers who use illegal drugs, ignore warning labels and abuse sleeping pills or other medications will often be at significantly-greater risk for causing a collision.
5. Vehicle Defects
Cars, trucks and SUVs are extraordinarily complex pieces of machinery, and vehicle defects are far more common than most people would like to believe. Engineering, design, mechanical and electrical issues can all cause malfunctions and sudden emergencies, and it often will not be clear what happened until the vehicle is examined by a qualified expert.
Speak with a Florida Car Accident Lawyer for Free
If you would like more information about your rights after a car accident in Florida, contact the law firm of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims and their families. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call (800) 780–8607 or submit your case online today.
