Common Causes of Car Accidents
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in the United States are involved in car accidents.
Car accidents have become so widespread that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made it one of their top priorities.
Automobile accidents are a primary cause of death in the United States, and often overcrowd emergency departments.
Regardless of how minor or serious your accident is, it has the potential to totally turn your life upside down.
Here are five steps to take after a car accident.
Your accident could lead to lost pay, physical injuries, pain and suffering, or even permanent disability.
Understanding what causes a car accident is the first step towards preventing one.
In car accidents, there are numerous elements at play.
We'll go through five of the most common causes of car accidents in the article below.
Car Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration(NHTSA), there are more than 6.5 million crashes reported annually.
These accidents result in more than 2.7 million injuries and over 36,000 deaths.
The CDC has reported that the financial cost of those crashes exceeds $75 billion annually.
And that's without taking into account the physical and emotional suffering that motor vehicle accidents cause victims and their families.
Pinning down what causes all of these accidents may seem like an impossible task.
However, the CDC, NHTSA, and other organizations have spent a significant amount of time piecing together traffic accident information to paint a clear picture of what causes many of these accidents.
The following factors play significant roles in accidents on U.S. roads.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving has long been a top cause of car accidents, even before cell phones. Cell phones and other technological advancements have further exacerbated the problem.
It's pretty uncommon to see someone on their cell phone messaging, scrolling through social media, or even filming for social media.
The issue with distracted driving is that the more you do it safely, the more ingrained the practice gets.
Drivers believe they have mastered the art of multitasking behind the wheel, and that they can call, text, read, and take pictures at any time.
These habits, though, will eventually catch up with you.
Pull over to the side of the road in a safe location if you need to do something while driving.
Otherwise, please do it when you arrive at your destination.
Drunk Driving
It is a major offense to drive when under the influence of alcohol.
Drivers must be able to concentrate, make split-second decisions, and react to unforeseen situations in order to drive safely.
If you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you won't be able to do any of those things.
Even a modest amount of alcohol has the potential to damage your driving performance.
Don't drive when inebriated since it puts you and everyone else on the road in danger.
In 2016, alcohol-impaired drivers were responsible for approximately a third of all fatal accidents.
Driver Fatigue
Whether they like to admit it or not, Americans suffer from chronic sleep deprivation.
About a third of individuals don't receive the seven to eight hours of sleep they need to wake up alert and refreshed on a regular basis.
Driving while drowsy is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
A driver who has been awake for 18 hours has the same visual, motor, and cognitive deficits as a driver with a 0.05 blood alcohol level, according to the CDC.
Even if you don't fall asleep behind the wheel, you'll experience decreased reaction times and muddled decision-making, which can result in tragic vehicle accidents.
To avoid these types of collisions, get enough sleep, avoid driving at the conclusion of a long day if at all feasible, and plan long road trips to start as soon as you wake up to avoid tiredness on the road.
Speeding
Speeding is a type of reckless and aggressive driving, which we'll discuss in a moment.
Speeding isn't solely connected with ecstatic teen drivers who have recently obtained their driver's license.
For various reasons, all age groups, not just young drivers, press the pedal to the metal and exceed the speed limit.
Maybe they're late for work or they're late picking up their children from school.
Whatever the reason, the end consequence is frequently an automobile collision, which can result in significant injuries such as whiplash or concussions, as well as death.
It doesn't make it any safer to speed just because you have a legitimate reason to do so.
Driving faster than the posted speed limit is irresponsible driving, and the quicker you drive, the less control you have over your vehicle if you hit something unforeseen on the road.
Stick to the speed restrictions to avoid getting a penalty and to ensure your and other motorists' safety.
Aggressive Driving
Getting into the driver's seat Anger, bitterness, and irritation are all emotions that can lead to accidents.
Every year, nearly 5 million car accidents are caused by aggressive driving.
Aggressive driving is responsible for more than half of all fatal accidents.
The most common kind of aggressive driving is speeding.
Lane blocking, failing to signal, failing to surrender the right of way, tailgating, and disobeying traffic regulations are all examples of aggressive driving.
All of these actions have the potential to result in a crash.
Calming down is the most effective strategy to combat aggressive conduct.
When you're in a difficult driving situation or in a mood that makes you impatient and irritable, take a deep breath and relax.
Getting furious behind the wheel will accomplish nothing and will very certainly result in disaster.
What Should You Do After A Car Accident?
If you've been in a car accident that was caused by someone else, you should consult with an auto accident lawyer.
Auto accident attorneys can help you protect your rights and obtain the money you are entitled to.
The most crucial thing you can do if you've been hurt in an accident is get medical help right away.
Even if you don't think you've been hurt, you should still see a doctor to get a clean bill of health.
After a car accident, a chiropractor is a fantastic doctor to see.
If necessary, your chiropractor will adjust your spine and may offer soft tissue therapies to assist relieve any pain or discomfort you are experiencing.
Your chiropractor can also provide nutritional advice and exercise prescriptions to aid in the healing process and help you restore full range of motion.
It is critical to seek medical attention and treatment as soon as possible following an injury in order to recover quickly.
The sooner your injuries are evaluated and a treatment plan is implemented, the faster you will be able to heal completely.
Even a seemingly minor mishap might result in injuries that manifest days or weeks later.
That is why it is critical to seek treatment from a chiropractor as soon as possible.
Visit A Chiropractor After A Car Accident
All of the common causes of car accidents can result in injuries that chiropractors can treat.
After your vehicle accident, a chiropractor at Arrowhead Clinic in Georgia will perform an in-depth physical exam to see if you have neck or spine problems.
They will execute chiropractic adjustments to assist realign your spine once your injuries have been detected, placing your body in the greatest position to heal and recover as quickly as possible.
Arrowhead Clinic's professional chiropractors can help ease your pain by giving exercises and dietary recommendations to aid in your recovery.
They can also recommend you to a personal injury lawyer if your collision was caused by another driver's negligence.
Call Arrowhead Clinic at 800-961-PAIN if you've just been in a car accident or are experiencing symptoms from a past automobile accident.