Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Albuquerque, NM

This has probably happened to you at some point or another: You are driving on the highway when traffic inexplicably slows to a crawl. As your car progresses, you see the cause of the jam–a serious roadside accident. As you pass the scene, you crane your neck to take in the details, and you wonder what could have caused such a terrible crash.

Car accidents may seem mysterious, but they do not occur without reason. Scientific methods, such as driving studies and accident reconstruction, have been able to examine car crashes and determine the main reasons why they happen. In this post, we will go over the top four causes of accidents as determined by recent studies.

Getting into a crash can present challenges that never existed before. This includes dealing with the damage that your vehicle sustained, as well as mild to serious injuries.

Fortunately, all drivers can work toward reducing the number of car accidents that take place in Albuquerque. One place to start is by reviewing the root cause of crashes. Being reckless, under the influence, ignoring speed limit signage, and not being careful in poor weather conditions can all lead to a dangerous collision.

Common Causes for Car Accidents in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Here are some of the most common car accident causes:

1. Distracted Driving

There are three main ways a driver can lose sight of the road ahead due to an activity that preoccupies their attention. These are distractions that require a driver’s vision, like making eye contact while talking to a passenger; distractions that require the use of a driver’s hand, like texting, eating, or changing radio stations; and distractions that require a driver’s mental space, like daydreams. Giving the road your undivided attention can quite literally mean the difference between life and death. It only takes seconds to cover a lot of ground.

By far, the most common cause of car accidents in the United States is distracted driving. A whopping 33 percent of all crashes happen because of distracted drivers, many of whom are texting or talking on their phones and veer out of their lanes–or off the road entirely. Distracted driving can be caused by any activity that takes the driver’s attention from the road: Changing the radio station, navigating a map, reading a billboard or talking to passengers. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to distracted driving: Put the other tasks away, and focus on the roads.

2. Impaired Driving

It probably comes as no surprise that getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can lead to a very traumatic accident. Some typical side effects of alcohol are clouded judgment, blurry vision, and limited coordination – all of which are ways to mess with the regular flow of traffic and create an emergency scene. On the other hand, it might be shocking to hear that several prescription medications and even sleepiness can also impair one’s driving. Those with certain medical conditions can suffer uncontrollable episodes like seizures, stroke, and heart attack.

3. Speeding and Reckless Driving

Speeding and other forms of reckless driving also cause many car accidents. Since speeding increases a vehicle’s stopping distance, disobeying the speed limit only increases an individual’s chance of being unable to stop in time when coming across a hazard. And engaging in careless driving, like giving into road rage or running stop signs, is a selfish way to go about driving. Only looking out for yourself and forgetting you share the road puts you and everyone around you in danger.

4. Losing Control of The Vehicle

The fourth most common cause of accidents is drivers losing control of their car or truck. Sometimes this is due to reckless driving like making sharp turns, aggressive maneuvering or other careless actions. However, drivers can also lose control because of weather conditions or vehicle malfunctions. To avoid car accidents caused by out-of-control vehicles, motorists should drive cautiously and defensively.

5. Rear-Ending Another Car

It should seem simple enough to maintain a safe distance between vehicles and brake when another driver does. Nonetheless, between 23 and 30 percent of all car crashes are caused by one driver rear-ending the vehicle of another. Drivers can circumvent this problem by paying close attention to the speed of the car in front of them and slowing down when appropriate.

Car Accidents Causes – Unrelated to Driver Error

Here are some of the common causes of car accidents that are not related to driver errors:

1. Weather Conditions

Something that is less within a motorist’s control is whatever surprise weather conditions can happen. For example, rain can create slick conditions and decrease visibility. So, it’s up to drivers to monitor conditions before heading out and to pull over if they ever feel like their safety is out of their own hands and in the hands of Mother Nature.

2. Poor Visibility

Many drivers have encountered another car that makes a reckless move, apparently blind to its surroundings. This scenario is frightening, but not uncommon. Twelve percent of car accidents are caused by drivers who have limited visibility. A few examples of these crashes? Running a red light because the driver doesn’t see any other cars, rolling through a stop sign without looking for pedestrians or cyclists, and making a left turn at an intersection without checking for oncoming vehicles. Paying attention to your surroundings can significantly reduce these types of crashes.

3. Poor Vehicle Maintenance

Poor vehicle maintenance is another culprit in auto accidents. Drivers should not be heading out with squealing brakes or bald tires. Other times, defective auto parts contribute to a crash and are the fault of the automakers.

Reach Out to Our Car Accident Attorney in Albuquerque

There are many other ways that accidents can unpredictably unfold. But no matter what events led you or a loved one to become a car accident victim, fair compensation could be around the corner. Contact our Albuquerque car accident attorney to get the compensation you deserve. Contact our team of experts at Berenson & Associates, PC.