Hiring a Philadelphia Car Accident lawyer may be prompted by the most frequent causes of auto accidents. Being safe on the streets is crucial whether you’re a local who has lived there for a long time or a visitor who is exploring Philadelphia. You have the highest chance of suffering a serious injury during rush hour. Both auto accidents and accidents involving pedestrians are examples of this. In crowded areas and junctions, the risk also rises.
Philadelphia is home to a variety of busy motorways as well as a network of narrow city streets. Philadelphia auto accidents will so range widely. They can be serious multi-car pileups or a pedestrian being hit at a crossing.
Car accidents are one of the main causes of death for people under 50, despite laws and other measures to make driving safer. In car accidents, more than 33,700 individuals pass away annually in the US. These figures are alarming, and regrettably, the numbers are only rising. If we do nothing to avoid them, according to some research, car accidents will rise to the top 5 most common causes of death globally by the year 2030. Although driving a car or motorcycle is the riskiest form of transportation, for many people, it’s also the simplest or only option. If we must drive, we must take all necessary precautions to keep both ourselves and other road users safe. Understanding the reasons behind auto accidents and the proper driving techniques required to prevent them is the greatest method to reduce the dangers associated with driving.
Sleepy Driving
According to the National Law Review, driving while fatigued is just as harmful as driving while intoxicated (NLR). The effects of alcohol and weariness are comparable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a driver who has been awake for 18 consecutive hours experiences similar impairments to those of a driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.05. This number is just a tad under the legal limit of 0.08 blood alcohol concentration.
Drivers who are drowsy frequently fall asleep for a few seconds and experience slow reaction times. Drowsy driving is an underreported cause of auto accidents, according to the NLR. Although driver inattention is an obvious sign of sleepiness, it may be listed as something different in a police report. Americans’ lack of sleep is a major factor in sleepy driving. Adults often sleep for less than seven to eight hours every night.
Dialed-In Driving
One of the leading factors in auto accidents is distracted driving. Many people frequently associate distracted driving with using a cell phone, although this category actually includes many more typical driver errors. Common sources of diversion include:
- Turning around to observe what the other travelers are doing.
- Being distracted by a daydream.
- Making radio adjustments.
- Examining the directions on the navigation system.
- Concentrating on a phone call or a talk with a passenger.
- Spilling food when eating, drinking, or both.
- Personal hygiene.
- Reading.
Drivers frequently occupy their time while stationary in a car by engaging in activities that divert their attention from the road. Driving is a duty that demands attention to the road.
Driving While Intoxicated
According to the CDC, drunk drivers cause about 16% of crashes and 28% of traffic-related fatalities in the United States. In recent years, both the government and the producers of alcoholic beverages have made concerted attempts to reduce drunk driving.
People drink other intoxicating substances in addition to alcohol before they drive. The statistics for driving under the influence go beyond alcohol use because marijuana use is on the rise and becoming legal in several jurisdictions. According to the CDC, drivers who use marijuana are around 25% more likely than non-users to get in a collision. The CDC analysis suggests that there may be other factors, such as age, that contribute to the higher accident risk among marijuana users.
Ignoring Stop Signs And Red Lights
The leading causes of crashes are passing through a stop sign and running a red light. In all instances, the driver who runs a stop sign or a red light will not be noticed by other road users until it is too late to avoid an accident. According to 2019 research by the American Automobile Association (AAA), this is a significant contributor to car accidents; on average, two people die each day as a result of these mistakes. Red-light running was listed as a contributing factor in auto accidents by the AAA as having increased by 28% between 2012 and 2017.
Unsafe Driving
Examples of reckless driving include cutting off other drivers, changing lanes abruptly or without signaling, and driving directions on top of another driver. However, many activities that are not generally irresponsible could be risky at that time, depending on the circumstance and the state of the roads. Drivers should always safely adjust to their surroundings and the state of the road.
Risky Road Conditions
According to NHTSA statistics, human error is to blame for 94 percent of automobile accidents. What about the additional factors? Regardless of the driver’s concentration and sound judgment, weather conditions might produce circumstances in which it is unsafe to drive. Additionally, driving can be challenging due to wind speed, heavy snow or rain, blinding fog, large puddles that can cause hydroplaning, and ice that can cause tires to lose traction. An automobile that loses traction and starts to slide down a hill might not be able to stop until it collides with something.
Problems can also arise from the state of the roads. The vehicle might not be at blame if they ran a stop sign and got into a collision, but no one could see the stop sign because of the overgrown tree. A broken traffic signal or potholes that might pop tires and make it impossible to pull over are examples of other road condition issues. An injured motorist should consult a lawyer if they are unsure of what to do following a collision. The reason for the collision and whether or not the client is entitled to compensation will be determined by a car accident attorney.
Incorrect Turning
Cities and suburbs are especially prone to poor turning techniques. These frequently result from two particular types of turns: unprotected left turns, and right turns made on a red signal. When making a right turn, vehicles may try to outrun incoming traffic or miss it altogether. To avoid risking pulling out into oncoming traffic, it is usually preferable to wait until you are certain that it is safe to turn. On the other hand, unprotected left turns are roughly 55 times riskier than unprotected right turns. An unprotected left turn requires a vehicle to reach the intersection and expose itself to traffic from three lanes, in contrast to a right turn that only encounters traffic from one direction.
Dialed-In Driving
It seems like there are more driving distractions than ever, including using cell phones, eating while driving, using in-car entertainment systems, and losing one’s train of thought. Remember that you are in control and have the ability to stop distracted driving before it occurs, even if these distractions are hazardous and a major factor in car accidents in Pennsylvania. Put your phone in an airplane or do not disturb mode before you leave. If you eat at a drive-through, you should either pull over or wait until you get there. Most crucial, attempt to recenter yourself by concentrating on a passing automobile or the lines on the road if you find yourself in a state of disorientation and realize you aren’t paying attention.
Speeding
It makes sense that nearly half of all serious car accidents in Pennsylvania involve speeding. The less time a driver has to react to approaching risks, the faster the car is moving. A quicker car also has more energy to release in a collision. As a result, crashes involving a speeding driver are not only more frequent but also frequently more lethal.
Keeping an eye on your speedometer is the greatest way to prevent these collisions. Suppose you become aware that you are moving too quickly; coast until you reach the posted speed limit. Keep in mind that speeding is deadly whether you’re on a busy freeway or an empty country road.
Requirements For State Insurance Levels
One of the 12 states having a no-fault insurance system in Pennsylvania. No-fault insurance has a variant in Pennsylvania called “Choice.” Drivers in “choice” states have the choice between insurance coverage based on standard tort liability law or a no-fault insurance policy. Pennsylvania drivers are required to carry a minimum level of insurance in any case.
What’s the distinction? A pure no-fault plan prevents you from suing careless drivers for non-economic damages and protects you from such lawsuits yourself. If you opt for the traditional tort approach, you can file a lawsuit against other drivers who have also opted to maintain their tort rights, and they can file a lawsuit against you. However, your typical tort rights are limited. You cannot file a lawsuit against a driver who chose the pure no-fault option after an accident.
Minimums for No-Fault Insurance
PennDOT mandates that you maintain the following minimum liability:
- $15,000 is insurance coverage for one person’s injury or demise in a single accident.
- Coverage of $30,000 for accidents involving many fatalities or injuries.
- Property damage insurance of $5000.
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