Human error. According to data cited by Stanford’s The Center for Internet and Society, between 90 percent and 99% of all motor vehicle collisions reported in the United States happen because of human error.
In other words, the overwhelming majority of car crashes could and should have been prevented if only all drivers had taken proper safety precautions. In this blog post, our Los Angeles car crash attorneys provide a more detailed explanation of the most common reasons why motor vehicle collisions occur, which include:
- Distracted driving;
- Factors that lead to rear-end collisions; and
- Intoxicated driving.
The Most Common Human Error that Causes Accidents: Distracted Driving
Almost all car accidents are caused by human error. Most of those errors are driver errors. While there is some minor variation in cause from study to study, researchers consistently find that around 90 percent of crashes are caused by a driver who made a mistake. What is the most common type of driver error that causes collisions? The answer is distracted driving.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 400,000 people are hurt in distracted driving accidents nationwide each year. To put that number into perspective, that means that somewhere between 25% and 33% of all car accidents in the United States occur, at least in part, because a driver was dangerously distracted while behind the wheel.
The Most Common Type of Accidents: Rear-End Collisions
Car crashes can happen in many different ways. Federal government data shows that rear-end collisions are the most common type of crash—accounting for somewhere between 40-50% of U.S. crashes. Rear-end accidents usually are, but not always, the fault of the second driver. Notably, the National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) found that “87% of rear-end crashes involved a driver failing to attend to the traffic ahead.”
In other words, distracted driving is often a cause of rear-end collisions. Drivers who fail to pay close attention to what is going on ahead of them are at a far higher risk of being involved in a rear-end collision. Technology, including automatic braking systems, will son reduce the number of rear-end collisions.
The Most Cause of Fatal Accidents: Intoxicated Driving
Finally, it is worth emphasizing that intoxicated driving is the primary contributing factor in many fatal accidents. Indeed, drunk driving and drugged driving are responsible for a highly disproportionate share of deadly car accidents.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports that around one in three fatal automobile collisions reported in the United States involves intoxicated driving. These accidents should never happen. Drinking while under the influence is extremely dangerous. It puts many innocent people in harm’s way.
Contact Our Los Angeles Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers for Immediate Help
At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our Los Angeles car accident attorneys are devoted to justice. If you were hurt in a crash with a distracted driver, we are more than ready to protect your rights. Contact us now for a free, no-obligation review and assessment of your personal injury claims.
From our offices in Southern California, we fight for the rights of injured victims throughout all of Southern California, including in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside, and Ventura County.