Car Crashes Across the Country

With over 250 million registered vehicles and almost 220 million drivers in the country, cars are a regular part of most Americans’ daily lives. And with so many cars, crashes happen all the time. So often, in fact, that the United States has federal agencies dedicated to writing and enforcing mandatory safety standards, documenting the frequency and causes of wrecks all around the country, and conducting research . Agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), and other organizations conduct studies to determine the primary causes of automobile crashes and try to formulate plans to reduce harm to the public. So why do cars crash? Let’s take a look at the statistics.

Department of Transportation Study

The USDOT conducted a major study in 2015 to get data on what are the major causes of automobile crashes, known as the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey. They looked at over 2 million accidents of all types over the span of several years. The primary conclusion that they came to is that most of accidents (over 90%, in fact) are caused by driver error. At the same time, the NHTSA started a similar study to find the determining factors that lead to these crashes. They also found that only around 2% arose from vehicle issues, and another 2% from weather conditions. 

Driver Error

The numbers show that the majority of crashes in this country are caused by driver error. The study broke this down into 5 different categories. The first category with a 40% occurrence rate was driver inability to recognize and understand dangers on the road. This is usually caused by distracted driving or a lack of observation of one’s surroundings. Secondly, with 30% was poor driver judgment when faced with dangers or obstacles on the road. Another issue documented was when drivers are unable to drive their vehicles efficiently or correctly. This includes poor driving like overcorrecting with the steering wheel or being unable to maneuver a car properly. The final category was tagged as improper driver capability, examples of which were falling asleep at the wheel and impaired driving. 

Laws and Regulations

The various federal organizations make it their duty to create rules and regulations that make driving safer for everyone. They mandate vehicle safety standards to prevent mechanical issues on the roads, and emission tests to keep our air as clean as possible. But the fact of the matter is that most car crashes are the result of driver error. Local and state lawmaking bodies create driving regulations for their localities, and include punishments for activities like driving while texting or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Knowing that when it comes to driving on America’s roads and highways that the danger is more likely to be from other drivers, you can take steps to protect yourself from possible harm. Safe driving measures like putting down your phone, keeping space between cars, and using your turn signals may seem like simple things, but they can all help save your car, or even your life. 

Contact a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Crash Case Today

Were you or a loved one injured in a car accident in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills continue to pile up and wait for the other side to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The Law Office of Mark A. Smith represents clients injured due to car accidents in Allegheny county, Westmoreland county, and Erie county. Call 412-567-1313 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.