Common Causes of Car Accidents

There is no shortage of incidents that can cause a vehicle crash – or bodily injury to one or more people in the vehicle. As car accident lawyers, we have seen all kinds of situations. The most common causes of car accidents in Texas include improper turns, unsafe lane changes, running red lights, rear-end collisions, drunk driving, teen drivers, and many others.

Although some incidents may appear to be the fault of one party or the other, it is always a good idea to consult with a respected personal injury attorney to determine if the other driver holds liability and could be held responsible for any financial losses you experienced.

Drunk Driving

Anytime there is a drunk driving case, it is possible to seek punitive damages because everybody knows you are not supposed to drink and drive. If they end up doing that, it means they made a conscious decision to disregard the safety of the motoring public, which is the definition of punitive damages. It is also fairly easy to determine if they are drunk, due to breathalyzers or other tests.

Speeding or Running a Stop Sign or Red Light

Whenever there is a car accident case allegedly caused by another driver speeding, lawyers will try to get the data from the vehicle that can prove, without a doubt, that it was speeding. This will often require an expert witness.

A fairly high-speed collision can result if a car blows past a stop sign or red light, and crashes into another car that has the right of way. When there is a higher speed involved in the collision, there is going to be greater force involved, leading to more property damage and bodily injury.

Driving at Night or in Bad Weather

On many occasions when there is a car accident at night, many drivers may blame it on the lack of proper lighting; yet when we go back and drive that same road under the same conditions, the majority of the time we find that the lighting was sufficient and the driver was simply not paying attention.

Bad weather can often play a major role in causing a crash. Even though it was snowy, icy, or foggy outside, drivers have a responsibility to drive safe enough for the weather. If a car is driving the speed limit when there is significant ice on the road, they could still be liable for causing a crash.

Call Our Law Firm No Matter the Cause of Your Crash

Front-end crashes, rear-end crashes, T-bone collisions, and other types of accidents can occur for any number of reasons. Do not always assume you know who is at fault for a motor vehicle incident – there can be a lot of factors at play.

Reach out to Schechter, Shaffer & Harris for more information on filing a lawsuit for your damages.