Thousands of people are involved in car crashes every year, most people will experience a car accident at some point of their lives. Most auto accidents happen due to factors such as sunlight, or mechanical failure. But many more accidents are caused by drivers who are distracted, exhausted, neglectful, or simply careless.

Although accidents occur frequently, serious accidents can forever change people’s lives. Victims may suffer enormous, physical, financial, and emotional burdens, long after the moment of impact. 

While most of these accidents are due to driver mistakes like distracted drivers or speeding drivers, they certainly occur because of bad weather or poor road conditions. Understanding the common causes of car accidents in Texas can help prevent an accident whenever possible and seek compensation for damages from someone else’s negligence.

Distracted Driving or Carelessness

In Texas and nationwide, distracted driving is one of the leading three causes of car crashes that have increased dramatically over the past two decades. This is because more motorists use handheld and mobile devices while behind the wheel. According to Texas DOT, distracted driving and carelessness on the road cause more than 100,000 accidents in Texas every year. Cell phones and tablets are not only the culprits. Many drivers use handheld music or GPS gadgets, take their eyes from the road and change the channel. Other ways in which drivers lose focus on the road include:

• Eating or drinking while driving.
• Make-up, use an electric razor, or otherwise tend to do personal care during traffic.
• Playing with children in the rear seat, or with newborns or children in a car seat.
• Attempt to collect spilt objects on the car floor.
• Adjusting radio, stereo or other devices.
• Turn to others in the car while you’re talking.

While you can manage the extent to which you divert yourself, the only thing you can do is drive defensively, often watch your mirrors and maintain a safe space between the cars on the road and behind you.

Speeding

Drivers must comply with posted speed limits. Unfortunately, many drivers tend to exceed the speed limit or drive at fast speeds in poor weather conditions. These drivers put everyone else at risk because they can’t stop the vehicle safely when necessary, among other dangers.

The faster a car goes; the more space a driver should allow the vehicle ahead. Wet roads need extra distance to stop. In adverse weather, poor visibility or heavy traffic, the drivers should drive at slow speeds.

Aggressive Driving

Although not one of the most common causes of auto and truck crashes yet, aggressive driving in Texas is growing increasingly widespread. Lower petrol prices have placed more cars on roads, and the following behavior types are becoming more prevalent:

• Drivers that are running stop lights or stop signs or that roll through a sign.
• Tailgating.
• Weaving in and out of multi-road traffic.
• Impatient drivers who pass on or on the right hand.
• Unsafe lane modifications.
• Excessive blinkering or light flashing.

Alcohol and Drugs Impairment

Drug and alcohol-impaired drivers also cause tens of thousands of accidents each year. On average, alcohol or drug impairment occurs between one quarter and one-third of all fatal collisions on U.S. roads each year.

Too much alcohol is illegal and extremely dangerous before driving. Alcohol impairment begins with the first drink sip and increases with further consumption. Drivers often make the mistake of thinking that they are safe to drive when their blood alcohol content is below the legal limit. They aren’t. Until their bodies metabolize the alcohol they consume, they will all suffer from some degree of sight impairment, motor coordination, and judgement, which will increase the risk of car accidents.

The same applies to drugs before driving, legal or illegal, over-the-counter or prescription. Many drivers are on the wheel with senses smothered by poisonous substances. In particular, prescription medication is an area of concern because drivers can take it with confidence that their doctors do not prescribe the medicine that jeopardizes their drivers.

Poor Conditions On the Road

Not every driver blame or negligence in Texas is responsible for all car crashes. Some accidents may occur because of bad road conditions. In such cases, the injured may hold the appropriate road crew or government body liable for failure to:

• Install guardrails.
• Plow or salty ice or wet roads.
• Substitute missing signage.
• Proper design of roadways.
• Potholes repair.

Since it is impossible to hold these entities responsible for their negligence, it is essential to contact a professional personal injury lawyer to help prove the fault.

Bad Weather

Another prevalent cause of Texas’ car accidents that are not associated with driver mistakes is bad weather. Weather changes may lead a vehicle to react in a manner not predicted by the driver. For example, extremely strong wind conditions might lead to drivers losing their vehicle control and crashing. Wet roads, excessive rainfall and hurricanes are also causes of Texas road accidents.

Disregarding Traffic Law

Another important cause of car crashes is the failure to comply with traffic rules. For example, running the traffic light may lead to an accident, failing to come to a complete stop or ignoring the speed limits. Besides, turning right and left in a spot where it is not allowed to do so may induce a side-impact crash, which can be extremely severe or fatal to car occupants.

Car Accident Lawyers Can Help.

Victims of car accidents caused by a driver influenced by any of the aforementioned variables or any other factor are legally entitled to compensation. An experienced Corpus Christi auto accident lawyer can represent them in legal proceedings for this compensation.

The tasks performed by a car accident lawyer to obtain the money plaintiffs require and deserve for their losses and injuries vary from case to case and victim to victim, but most will include:

• To determine the reason for an accident. An investigation that reveals one or more foregoing factors usually shows that a defaulting party is legally responsible for compensating the victims for damages.
• Evaluating the damage done to the victims due to the collision guarantees that the lawyer pursues the greatest amount permitted under the law in any legal proceeding.
• Treating and communicating with accident victims in an easy to comprehend language.
• Negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement of the legal claim for the accident with the representatives of the parties responsible for the accident.
• If required, take a matter before the court for a fairly favorable resolution to a client’s claim.