The first key to avoiding car accidents is simple: Understand why they happen. When you know what causes accidents, you can often improve your own driving by focusing on safety. You may also be able to avoid accidents when you understand the types of mistakes others make.
Here are some of the top reasons for car accidents to keep in mind:
- Night driving
- Running a red light
- Poor weather conditions
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
Eliminating some of these issues is easier than others. For instance, if you have to work at night or even during a storm, you can’t avoid bad weather or night driving. You can, however, easily avoid distractions by putting down the phone and focusing on the road. You can avoid red-light running and speeding simply by being aware of and following traffic laws.
The problem is that you are the only one you can control, but you are not the only one causing accidents. As safely as you drive, there is always someone else out there who is disobeying traffic laws or not taking safety seriously. These people cause accidents all of the time. When you have to share the road with them — especially at night or in poor weather — then you still face serious risks.
Therefore, while working hard to avoid accidents is wise, you must also understand that you cannot always do so. If you get injured in a crash caused by another driver, you may have a right to financial compensation for medical bills and other such costs.
