Media post: Most Common Causes of Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Car accidents happen every single day. Unfortunately, Missouri has a serious accident and fatality rate.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 157,038 traffic accidents statewide in 2019, resulting in 881 deaths and 55,112 injuries.

1,004 people were killed in Missouri traffic crashes in 2021.

Some accidents can be avoided. Therefore, it is essential to know the most common causes of car accidents so you can try to prevent them from happening.

There are many causes of car accidents. However, we will look only at the most common ones.

Do you know that you may claim damages for your injuries and related expenses if you are injured in a car accident?

In a personal injury claim, it is required to prove fault. An excellent personal injury lawyer should be used to determine who’s at fault.

Let’s look at the most common types of car accidents to avoid them.

The Top Three Causes of Accidents Causing Injuries in Missouri

Speeding

It goes without saying that high-speed accidents result in much more significant injuries than slow-speed accidents do.

Speed limits are imposed for a reason. That reason is safety. Exceeding the speed limit, especially by a large margin, is reckless and negligent and can cause many accidents.

The faster you are going, the less reaction time you have in an emergency situation. Any actions you take to avoid a collision can result in much more severe consequences than would have if you were going slowly.

Speeding results in a much higher risk of losing control of the vehicle.

Speeding increases the severity of the impact.

The faster you drive, the greater your stopping distance. This means that you could stop in time to avoid an accident if you drive slower.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving examples include eating while driving or adjusting your radio. However, the most significant distraction source is using your cell phone whilst driving.

Texting is hazardous, as is trying to place a call or responding to your constant social media alerts on the fly.

Driving a vehicle requires your entire focus. You are propelling a potentially deadly weapon that requires your control to prevent accidents.

“Hands-Free” regulations are in place to ensure that you do not operate your cell phone whilst driving.

As tempting as it may be to send a quick text or respond to a friend, do not do it – it is just not worth the risk and can have life-changing consequences.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Known as “DUI”, this is the cause of far too many deaths on our roads.

It is beyond question that even small amounts of alcohol or drug contaminants in your blood can severely affect and degrade your judgment behind the wheel.

Not only is your actual judgment of time, distance and speed affected, but your response time to emergency situations is severely impaired.

Driving under the influence is a serious crime and can result in significant fines and even jail time. More importantly, it can cause severe injury and even death to you, your passengers and innocent bystanders,

Make sure that you never drive under the influence. Take an Uber or “sleep over” if you are not in a position to drive to the standard required by the law.

Stay Safe

Ensure that you never exceed the speed limit, don’t operate your cell phone whilst driving and never drive under the influence. You will significantly improve your chances of not being involved in a car accident.

It’s not too much to ask – from all of us for all of us.

Stay safe.