Oregon Car Wreck Attorney Discusses Common Crash Causes

If you’re a car driver and are on the road a fairly average amount of time, there’s at least a 25 percent chance that you’ve been involved in a car accident within the last five years. Yes, that’s right. As a driver, there’s a one in four chance that you’ll be involved in some sort of vehicle accident in that time frame. That may seem like a lot to you, but the truth of the matter is that accidents happen and they happen often. Any Oregon car wreck attorney can provide you with a plethora of statistics detailing just how much and how often these disastrous events occur

What can you do to avoid this fate? You might believe that it’s the luck of the draw, but in fact, there is quite a lot that you can do to avoid such accidents. To start, it is crucial to know about and understand the most common causes of car wrecks. When you are more aware of what causes a majority of accidents, you can be better prepared to prevent them and avoid becoming a victim of your own negligence or someone else’s.

Driver Negligence and Behaviors

The most common cause of traffic accidents today is driver negligence or other behaviors that contribute to an eventual accident. Poor driving behaviors can take many different forms. Distractions such as changing the radio station, talking on a cell phone or texting while driving, and reaching to the back of your vehicle to get something are typical culprits. But there are many more behaviors that are equally disastrous, including driving while tired, speeding, drunk driving, and overly aggressive driving or road rage. Some studies have even shown that 16 percent of accidents are directly caused by the fact that another driver slowed down to view an accident scene and became distracted from the road in front of them.

Poor Weather Conditions

If you’ve ever lived in an area that receives a lot of rain, or has heavy snow winters, then you know just how important it is to take certain precautions while driving in this kind of weather. Most often times, drivers who have been involved in accidents will blame the icy roads or the fog for their accident, but the truth is that the weather is often not to blame. As a driver, you are the person who is responsible for taking the necessary precautions while driving in inclement weather. If conditions are too severe, you will need to make a choice whether or not your safety will be at risk if you decide to drive in such conditions. If you do decide that you can drive in the weather, you will need to stay vigilant, slow your speed, and take all precautions that you can.

Car & Vehicle Equipment Failure

In some cases, car accidents are caused by the malfunction of parts and or systems that are a major part of the operating system of the vehicle. This is a manufacturing issue and could be the fault of the vehicle’s manufacturer which means that you may need the help of an Oregon car wreck attorney. However, many more accidents can be directly attributed to the poor care and maintenance of an individual’s vehicle. It is vital that any vehicle be properly maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.