More than 90 percent of car accidents are caused by driver errors. Many lives would be saved if drivers were more cautious when handling their vehicles. To help keep you safe on the roads, here are some of the top driver errors to look out for:
- Distracted Driving: We’ve all heard you shouldn’t text and drive, but do you really put away your phone while driving? Nearly 5,500 vehicle-related deaths can be attributed to distracted driving, such as texting, according to a 2009 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Not only cell phone use, but also eating and adjusting your music can also lead to serious accidents.
- Speeding: Police give out speeding tickets for good reason. Speeding leads to many car accidents since you don’t have enough time to brake and could lose control of your vehicle. It’s especially dangerous to speed through areas with high-pedestrian traffic since you never know when someone will jump out in the middle of the road.
- Drowsy Driving: Even if you are sleepy, you might keep driving because you just want to get home and curl up in bed. But the NHTSA estimates that drowsy driving is a factor in 100,000 crashes, 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths annually. If you are tired, take a quick cat-nap at a safe rest area, or friend’s home to refresh yourself before driving home.
- Driving Under the Influence: We all know those who drive after drinking or doing drugs not only endanger their lives, but everyone else’s on the roadways. Yet, alcohol-related deaths made up 31% of the overall traffic fatalities in 2010. Drink responsibly and always have a designated driver.
If you were in a Dallas car accident due to someone else’s driver error, you deserve compensation for your emotional and physical trauma. Contact the Law Offices of W.T. Johnson today and set-up your free, no-obligation consultation.
