Causes of Car Accidents in Dallas, TX

person inspecting car after accident

What Are the Leading Causes of Car Accidents?

Some of the most common causes of car crashes include:

Distracted driving

Distracted driving can cause accidents. Texting or talking on handheld phones are among the most widespread distractions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 660,000 vehicles in any given daylight moment are being operated by drivers using handheld cell phones.

Drunk driving

In one recent year, more than 10,000 people were killed in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents. These 10,322 deaths accounted for 31 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. that year by drunk driving.

Drug impairment

Alcohol is not the only cause of driver impairment that can lead to accidents. The use of certain recreational, prescription and over-the-counter drugs can make it highly unsafe to drive a car – and dangerous for other motorists on the road.

Driver fatigue

It is extremely dangerous to drive while drowsy or to fall asleep at the wheel. NHTSA attributes 1,000 vehicle crash fatalities a year to driver fatigue. This is especially a concern among truck drivers.

Aggressive driving

Aggressive driving may involve speeding, tailgating, frequent and unnecessary lane changes, and running red lights. Aggressive driving can escalate to road rage in certain situations. Any of these behaviors can cause a crash.

Reckless driving

Under Texas law, driving a vehicle in “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” amounts to reckless driving. Dangerous driving, such as driving at more than 25 mph over the speed limit or passing in unsafe zones on two-lane roads, causes accidents and risks lives.

Speeding

According to the National Safety Council, 30 percent of all fatal accidents in one recent year are caused by speeding. More than 10,000 people are killed each year in speed-related crashes.

Teen drivers

Nearly 292,000 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 were treated in emergency rooms for car crash-related injuries in a single year, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and another 2,650 were killed. Teen drivers are responsible for a disproportionate number of car wrecks.

Rear-end collisions

Drivers who follow too closely shorten their reaction times and put other motorists at risk. NHTSA has determined that tailgating and unsafe passing are responsible for 26.5 percent of all rear-end collisions in the U.S.

Automotive defects

Although human factors cause the majority of car accidents, in 4.5 percent of all crashes, NHTSA has identified vehicle factors as the cause. Even if not the cause of an accident, auto defects may make injuries worse than they otherwise would have been.

Dangerous roadways

Dangerous roadways play a role in a good portion of all car accidents in the U.S. According to NHTSA, dangerous roadways are responsible for 20.2 percent of all single-vehicle roadway-departure accidents and 18.3 percent of all accidents with vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

Do You Need More Information About Common Causes of Car Wrecks in Dallas?

Our Dallas car accident lawyers from our legal firm Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. can help you. Call us at (214) 999-9999

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