Common Causes and Types of Car Accidents
Below are several of the most common types of injury causing car accidents.
- Distracted Driving: The accident was caused, all or in part, by a distracted driver. The NHTSA defines distraction as any activity that “diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.”
- Rear End Accidents: The accident was caused by a driver rear-ending or colliding with the back of another vehicle. In most cases, the driver who rear-ended the other car in front is considered at fault. This type of accident is also commonly associated with whiplash injuries.
- Drunk Driving: The driver (or someone else involved in the accident) was driving under the influence of alcohol, and had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per decileter of blood (g/dL). Commercial drivers have a lower legal BAC limit of .04 g/dL.
- Rollover Accidents: Someone in the accident was in a vehicle that rolled over, tipping over onto its side or roof. Rollover accidents have a higher fatality rate than other types of crashes.
- Uninsured Motorists: Either you or someone else involved in the accident did not carry automobile insurance at the time of the accident. Motorists are legally required to have liability insurance in nearly every state in the U.S., but sometimes people still drive without it, or are late on their payments, so the policy lapses.
- Head-On Collisions: The front ends of two vehicles involved in an accident hit each other. The vehicles were moving directly toward each other prior to the accident.
- Driving While High: Driving while under the influence of illegal drugs is usually just as dangerous as driving while drunk. Though there is no uniform standard for how much of a drug is considered unlawful to have in one’s system, law enforcement can detect signs of drug impairment, and require a blood test.
- Speeding: One or more of the drivers in the accident was traveling over the posted speed limit.
- Reckless driving: One of the drivers in the accident was driving in a reckless manner. He may have been racing another vehicle, carousing to impress friends, trying to outperform other vehicles, or displaying road rage. The driver was operating the vehicle in a way that disregarded the safety of others.
- Running a traffic signal or traffic sign: A driver disregarded a traffic signal, causing the accident.
- Changing lanes without looking or signaling: A driver abruptly changed lanes without using a signal or looking for other vehicles, thus causing an accident.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Pittsburgh
Contacting an experienced car accident attorney is very important if you have been involved in an accident in Pittsburgh, PA. The Pittsburgh personal injury attorneys at Chaffin Luhana will fight for you so that you’re able to recover the money you need to receive the best possible care and recover from your injuries.
To find out if you qualify to file an auto accident claim, contact us today or call us 24/7 at 1-888-480-1123.
Fill out our simple case review form
Speak With a Car Crash Specialist
Related Pages and Posts:
Distracted Driving Accidents
Head-On Collision Accidents
Drunk Driving Accidents
Rear-End Accidents
Rollover Accidents
Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions
What to do After a Car Accident