Car crashes occur every day. For those who haven’t been involved in one, and even for those who have, there is a bit of a mystery surrounding them. We read about them, but we never find out why they happened. Even seeing the aftermath of an accident doesn’t give us much insight into the how of the accident.
While car accidents occur by the thousands on America’s roads everyday, there are six scenarios that play out the most often, according to Slate. Only six. There are certainly other actions and mistakes that lead to collisions, but these are the most common.
1. Rolling Right Turn
A driver is approaching a red light, getting ready to turn right. Instead of making a complete stop, they look to the left to see if there are any cars coming. There aren’t so they proceed with their turn. Out of seemingly nowhere a pedestrian or maybe a cyclist appears.
These accidents happen mainly because we look one way and drive in another. 6 percent of all pedestrian fatalities are caused by the rolling right turn at a red light.
2. Asleep at the Wheel
Another common cause of accidents is a driver falling asleep at the wheel. Studies show that it is reasonable to estimate that about 7 percent of all car crashes occur because someone fell asleep while they were driving.
3. No Control
We believe we can never lose control of our vehicle. The truth is that a driver losing control can be blamed for about 11 percent of all accidents. Whether a driver is behaving aggressively or driving in a manner that isn’t safe for road conditions, losing control is a very real possibility.
4. Driving Blind
Of course you don’t intentionally drive in a way that causes you to lose your field of vision, but what happens when you are driving next to a semi? Maybe you are driving down an unfamiliar road in the dark, and you are unaware that a stop sign lies ahead. No matter the cause, we have all driven blind at some point.
5. Following Too Closely
Rear-end collisions account for between 23 and 30 percent of all collisions. Even if you are leaving enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you, they may suddenly slam on their brakes. Stay aware and stay focused.
6. Leaving Your Lane
We have all been guilty of distracted driving. You may find it surprising to know that 33 percent of all accidents are caused by someone leaving their lane of travel. When your attention is taken away from the road ahead, you may drift out of your lane or off the road altogether.
If you are involved in a car accident in Atlanta that can be attributed to another’s error or negligence, you may have a personal injury case. Call our office today to schedule a case evaluation, and learn more about your legal rights and options. We will speak to you at no cost to help you determine the appropriate steps for your situation.
