Be Careful Temecula Drivers! The Most Common Types of Car Accidents

What if you were taking a chance with your life every time you went outside?

In Temecula and beyond, one of the biggest dangers you’ll face is car accidents. But you can make yourself safer by understanding the most common types of car accidents you’ll encounter.

Ready to improve safety for you and your family? Keep reading to learn all about the most common car accidents on the road.

Distracted Driving Accident

Ever wonder what the most common type of car accident is? The answer is distracted driving, which kills a shocking 9 drivers a day and injures a thousand others.

“Distracted driving” is a term that covers a lot of ground. It may refer to a driver who is distracted by anything from eating food while driving to checking their smartphone as they travel down the road. Whatever the cause, the ultimate effect is a distracted driver who cannot focus 100% on the road.

Distracted driving is dangerous even under the best circumstances. However, other factors (including inclement weather) make it even likelier for distracted driving to result in an accident. While you can’t control the weather or what other drivers do, you can always control how much you focus directly on the road as you drive.

Speed-Related Accident

Nobody loves speed limits. But have you ever considered why they are so important?

Speed limits represent how fast you can safely travel and safely slow down if you encounter things like obstacles and pedestrians. This is why speed limits are highest on highways and the Interstate: there is very little to get in the way while you drive.

Many people go above the speed limit each day, and this is the second-highest cause of accidents. And it’s not really hard to see why!

If the speed limit is 20 MPH and a car pulls out in front of you, it’s easy to hit the brakes if you’re at or below 20 MPH. But if you’re going twice the speed limit while running late to work, you won’t have enough time to slow down and will likely hit the other vehicle.

Drunk Driving Accident

Driving while drunk is one of the most dangerous things anyone can do on the road. Sadly, this doesn’t keep countless drunken drivers from getting behind the wheel when they are in no state to drive. And drunk driving is the third most common cause of car accidents.

Drunk driving is so dangerous because alcohol slows down things like your response time and your ability to focus on different things. And the more you have to drink, the more you will be affected.

Legally speaking, a driver is too drunk to drive if their Blood Alcohol Content is .08 or higher. However, alcohol affects everyone’s body in different ways. There are many drivers who are dangerous behind the wheel even if they have only had a drink or two!

Reckless Driving Accident

Reckless driving is the fourth most common cause of car accidents. And like distracted driving, “reckless driving” is a term that encompasses many different things. 

In some cases, this can refer to excessive speeding that is well above the limit. In other cases, it may refer to tailgating other drivers or quickly switching lanes without looking.

In many ways, the primary cause of reckless driving is selfishness. If a driver only cares about themselves and doesn’t really worry about the safety of others on the road, they become very dangerous.

Sometimes there are other factors in play. For example, a drunken motorist is far likelier to drive recklessly than someone who is completely sober.

Regardless of the cause or exacerbating factors, reckless driving poses a serious risk of accident to the driver and everyone else on the road.

Rain-Related Accident

Depending on where you live, different kinds of inclement weather can cause some serious car accidents. But the most common type of weather-related accidents throughout the country is caused by rain.

That’s because rain essentially changes how your car functions on the road. Once the surface is slick, it’s easy for your vehicle to lose its “grip” on the road and begin sliding in unexpected directions.

On top of that, many drivers don’t know how to react if their vehicle begins to slide or even hydroplane. And if you have deflated tires or other car maintenance issues, that makes a rain-related accident even more likely.

Long story short? In the event of rain, you need to focus even more on the road and your surroundings. Otherwise, you risk a nasty car accident. 

What To Do After An Accident

We’ve covered the most common types of car accidents. But there is still an important question: what do you need to do after a car accident?

First, make sure that you are safe and call for any medical or police help as needed. It’s important to stay on the scene, but make sure to get away from the vehicle if it is leaking gas or otherwise dangerous. If the accident is relatively minor, try to get your car off the main road so you’re no longer impeding traffic.

Second, you need to exchange info with the authorities when they arrive and with any other drivers involved. If you fail to do so, or leave the scene early, you could end up in legal trouble. This information includes driver names, numbers, car information, insurance information, and police information (if applicable).

If you get a chance, this is a great time to take pictures of the accident, write down witness contact info, and write down a description of the accident. This information can help you out when you talk to your insurance company and may ultimately prevent your insurance rate from going up (or going up very much).

Types of Car Accidents: What Next?

Now you know about the types of car accidents and what to do afterward. But what if the other driver or the insurance company disputes your account of events?

You may need to hire a specialized automobile accident attorney. Such an attorney can help you file paperwork, speak with insurance companies, and represent you in a hearing if need be.

We specialize in automobile accident law, personal injury, and wrongful death. To see how we can represent your needs after an accident, contact us today!