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Can You Guess the 6 Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Car accidents happen across the country – and the state of California – every day. Some are freak accidents that no one could have seen coming and others are easier to predict. If you think you can guess the top six reasons that car accidents happen in the U.S., then keep reading to find out if you’re right. If you were injured in a car accident, call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.

Not coming to a complete stop at a red light

When you come up on a red light and are planning to turn right, do you come to a complete stop before doing so? Many people don’t. Slowing down isn’t enough – the law requires a complete stop. You should be looking to the left to see if there are vehicles coming, and to the right to see if there are pedestrians or bicyclists on the road ahead of you.

Falling asleep behind the wheel

Studies have shown that around 7% of car accidents are caused by drowsy driving and nearly one-quarter of fatal car accidents are the result of the same. A survey showed that almost 40% of people admitted to having fallen asleep while driving at least once in their life and more than 10% admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel in the last year. Experts say the cause of this issue is that people are unable to judge just how tired they really are.

Turning when you can’t see what’s coming

It’s happened to just about everyone: You need to make a left turn but there’s something blocking your view. About 12% of crashes happen when a driver moves forward without being able to clearly see what’s in front of them. This is a good reminder to make sure you can see before you turn. If you can’t see, then back up and find another place to turn.

Being rear-ended

Nearly one-quarter of car accidents are the result of a car hitting the car in front of it. This can be because a driver was driving too close to the vehicle in front of it. A study shows that hurrying and driving faster only saves an average of 26 seconds per day. Is that worth a car accident? Give the car in front of you a little more room to stay a lot safer.

Distracted driving

Are your eyes on the road 100% of the time that you’re driving? If you take your eyes off the road to read a text, check an email, turn on your radio, etc. you could be significantly increasing the chances of being in an accident.

Driving aggressively

Trying to pass a car when you’re not 100% sure you have room is not a wise idea. Speeding through a red light isn’t a good idea. Take a moment, relax, and get to your destination safely. No matter how frustrated you may be by traffic, it’s not worth getting into an accident.