A Lexington, South Carolina car accident lawyer discusses the leading causes and contributing factors of crashes.
No matter how cautious you are on the road, you can't always avoid the drivers who behave recklessly. When a crash occurs, it often happens when we least expect it. In the aftermath, you may be dealing with medical costs while you're unable to work and earn a living. You have the right to pursue a claim to recover the damages accrued from your crash. Unfortunately, that isn't an easy process.
South Carolina is an "at-fault" insurance state, which means you must prove that the other driver's negligence caused your injuries. A thorough investigation by an experienced car accident attorney is critical for gathering the necessary evidence to support your claim. Below are the leading causes and contributing factors of crashes.
Leading causes of crashes
The leading negligent and reckless actions that lead to crashes include:
- Distracted driving. Any action that causes drivers to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or attention away from driving is distracted driving. This includes cellphone use, multitasking, daydreaming, using infotainment systems, and talking to passengers. Your attorney can get a subpoena for the other driver's cellphone records and look for texts, calls, or data use at the time of your crash.
- Speeding and reckless driving. Drivers who speed and drive recklessly often don't allow themselves enough time and distance to stop to avoid a crash. The faster the speed at the time of a crash, the greater the amount of damage inflicted. The amount of damage to both cars and tire marks left in the roadway often determine how fast a driver traveled at the time of the crash.
- Impaired driving. Drivers who use alcohol, recreational drugs, and certain prescription meds often lack the judgment, reaction time, and coordination to safely operate a car. Police often arrest impaired drivers at the crash scene. This will be documented on your South Carolina car accident report, which can be obtained online at the Department of Motor Vehicles website.
- Drowsy driving. Driving while tired can result in short microsleeps, which happens when a driver dozes off for just a few seconds. This is just enough time and distance to cause a catastrophe at full speed. Even when drowsy drivers don't fall asleep, they often experience poor concentration, loss of memory, and delayed reaction time.
Common contributing factors
Contributing factors aren't necessarily causes of crashes. They're the conditions that can contribute to crashes when drivers fail to operate their cars in a way that's reasonable and prudent. Some examples of contributing factors include:
- Hazardous weather conditions
- Slippery road conditions
- Heavy traffic or roadside construction
- Road defects such as potholes and uneven surfaces
- Poor visibility caused by lack of light or fog
When conditions aren't favorable for driving, crashes can be avoided when drivers pay attention, give themselves more time, and reduce their speed.
Contact an experienced Lexington, SC car accident lawyer for help with your claim
If you were injured in a crash, the legal team at Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law can investigate your crash and use the evidence we find to help maximize your compensation. We'll also deal with the insurance companies for you so you only have to focus on recovery. Our law firm is dedicated to holding negligent drivers accountable and helping injured motorists recover medical expenses, lost wages, and non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering).
To schedule your free and confidential case evaluation, contact our Lexington law office online and we'll get back to you shortly.
