Many people in the United States rely on personal vehicles for transportation. In fact, personal transportation is the only method of transit in some of the countries smaller or more suburban cities. Considering that more people in our country rely on driving themselves from point A to point B, there is also an increase in the amount of road accidents. Driving a vehicle requires consistent attention and knowledge of the rules of the road. There are also many things that can cause an auto accident, especially when this knowledge is forgotten or inhibited.
Distracted driving.
As technology continues to advance, cases of distracted driving incidents also increase. Driving requires a person?s full attention. It requires the driver to have the ability to stop within seconds. When driver?s get too focused on their cellular devices or other technological devices in their vehicles, their attention spans are diverted. It takes them longer to stop, and they may not notice other vehicles, often leading to auto accidents.
Distracted driving is probably even more common than we think. At any given daylight moment across America, for example, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving. This level of distracted driving increases the risk of an accident, including fatal accidents. Many states have even passed city and state laws that ban the usage of cell phones while driving, in an attempt to reduce the truck accident statistics.
Driving under the influence.
In every state in the country, driving under the influence of alcohol past a certain limit, is illegal. That specific limit is usually set by the state. However, it can be difficult to accurately measure this limit of alcohol in the blood, making people believe they are acceptable to drive, even when they are not. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol severely reduces reaction times while driving, increasing accidents and truck accident statistics.
Considering that driving under the influence is illegal, someone who causes an accident with alcohol in their system will face severe legal charges. They will likely require the services of a car accident attorney, or a personal injury lawyer, depending on the extent of the injuries or either party. The person may face jail time, probation, community service, and expensive fines. They will also be responsible for the costs of their own car accident lawyer.
Fatigue.
Fatigue plays a huge role in truck accident statistics. Being overly tired can produce a similar reaction time to driving under the influence of alcohol or drug substances. Most fatigue related cases are work related. They may involve truck drivers who are driving long hours to meet deadlines. Truck accident statistics tend to be higher in those who drive long distances for work. The CDC reports that there were 45,343 motor vehicle fatalities in 2005, the leading cause of death in unintentional accidents. Of these deaths, 5,212 involved trucking accidents.
One recent estimate puts the number of fatigue related crashes per year at over 100,000, which caused over 1,500 deaths. Employers of truck drivers can actually be liable for drivers who feel pressured to drive, even when they are fatigued. This is why many personal injury law cases involving truck accidents are car accident settlements. Many trucking companies have even passed maximum mileages, meaning that drivers are only allowed to drive for so many miles, per day, thus forcing them to stop and take a break when they are too tired.
Our country is reliant on personal transportation methods. Without personal transportation, we would not have the ability to travel as long of distances as we do. However, more vehicles on the road mean more accident cases. Auto accidents come from a variety of sources, including fatigued working drivers, drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and distracted drivers. Any of these cases can lead to legal charges, especially if someone is severely injured. When an auto accident involves any of these causes, it is best to consult with an auto accident attorney.