A car accident is perhaps the last thing that you think could ever happen to you. But regardless of how careful a driver you are, one just doesn’t know when they may encounter a reckless driver and get into an accident themselves. Knowledge about your rights and motor vehicle accident laws might come in handy should you or anyone you know meet a road accident.
The first thing anyone who meets an accident while driving should do is to retain the services of a San Antonio auto accident lawyer, who can help walk you through everything step you need to know when making claims as a victim or your rights as a liable party.
It doesn’t matter whether you drive a motorcycle, an 18-wheeler truck, or your average family car. Handling every kind of vehicle has its own risks. Read on to know more about the top causes of auto accidents and some of the most violated motor vehicle accident laws.
The top ten causes of auto accidents are speeding, bad weather, driving under the influence of alcohol, drug use, sleepiness, cell phone use, distractions, recklessness, rubbernecking, and road hazards. The list is compiled from various sources from countries like the US and Canada.
Government officials and various organizations have been aiming to raise awareness to help prevent auto accidents. However, speeding continues to be a common problem on the roads. Different countries impose different speed limits but one universal rule is that, the faster you go, the higher the risk of sustaining an injury in case you meet an accident. Get legal representation right away if you become the victim of an accident. Hire the services of an 18 wheeler accident lawyer or a motorcycle accident lawyer, depending on what vehicle you were handling. They are experts on specific cases and will help you better with regards to settlements, making claims, and other matters.
The weather is the second top cause of vehicle accidents. Drivers have little control of rain, fog, and snow, which cause slippery roads and blurred vision. Be extra careful when driving in bad weather. Drunk driving and drug use are top causes of auto accidents. Alcohol and drugs slows down the body’s reflexes and makes a person more aggressive. For obvious reasons, drunk driving is prohibited by motor vehicle accident law.
The next top cause of road accidents is sleeping on the wheel. The National Traffic Safety Administration records some 100,000 accidents caused by sleepiness in the US every year. Cellular phones are hazards to road safety only if we allow them to be. Stop the car if you must make or receive a call. Do not rely on your handset’s hands-free feature. Aside from using cell phones, distractions like eating inside a vehicle, changing the radio station, and having kids or animals in the car are also major accident causes.
Recklessness results in road accidents as it is the willful disregard for motor vehicle accident laws. Rubbernecking happens when drivers forget to keep their eyes on the road when they come in proximity to auto accident scene. Accidents caused by poor road maintenance can be avoided if drivers are alert and careful at all times.
Sheer violation of motor vehicle accident laws causes fatal auto accidents. In the unfortunate event that you or anyone you know gets involved in a car crash, the first thing to do is to call a local San Antonio auto accident lawyer who specializes on the kind of accident you had, such as an 18 wheeler accident lawyer or a motorcycle lawyer for instance. They have handled cases similar to yours and will give you an advantage in winning your case.
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