Common Causes of Car Accidents
Car accidents happen every day all throughout Kansas. And it may come as no surprise that most of the accidents are preventable. In most instances, car crashes happen because of negligence.
Whether you’re in a busy city such as Kansas City or a smaller town such as Hays, drivers must pay attention behind the wheel to prevent car accidents. But we can’t effectively prevent motor vehicle crashes unless we know why they occur. So, what are the common causes of car accidents? Speeding? Impaired driving? Distracted driving? Poor road conditions? The answer is all the above and more.
No matter the cause, if you’ve been hurt in a crash that wasn’t your fault, a Kansas car accident attorney from Bretz Injury Law can help uncover the actual cause of the collision and aggressively fight for the compensation you deserve. At Bretz Injury Law, our experienced car accident attorneys pride themselves on their impressive track record and unrivaled client relationships. Our dedicated legal team consistently achieves remarkable outcomes in some of the most complex and challenging cases. We have won over 98% of the cases we’ve pursued over the past 30 years, recovering over $300 million.
Our auto accident attorneys understand the distress that car wrecks can inflict on victims and their families. We go above and beyond to protect our client’s rights and guide them toward justice and fair compensation. Call 620-RESULTS today to learn more about the common causes of car accidents in Kansas as we discuss your options.
Kansas Car Accident Statistics
Unfortunately, thousands of people get killed and others sustain severe injuries in car accidents every year in Kansas. In 2021, 57,598 crashes occurred across Kansas, involving 90,425 vehicles. These crashes resulted in 17,479 non-fatal injuries and approximately 424 deaths. This was a shocking increase from the previous year.
These shocking numbers only emphasize the importance of practicing caution when behind the wheel and being well-informed about your legal rights — if, by chance, you or a loved one is involved in a car crash.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Kansas
Car accidents can happen anywhere and anytime due to different factors. As Kansas personal injury attorneys, we unfortunately hear about them all the time. Sometimes, drunk drivers are to blame. Other times, it’s someone busy texting while driving. Regardless of the cause, the severity of these crashes can range from minor collisions to fatal car wrecks, each bringing its own set of physical injuries, emotional distress, and legal complexities.
Some of the most common contributing factors we frequently see at Bretz Injury Law include:
Speeding
Speeding is a frequent issue on many of Kansas’s most common roadways, such as I-70 from Kansas City to Hays, K-96 in Sedgwick County, and US-54 through Kingman and Pratt. In 2021, 4,479 speed-related crashes were reported in Kansas. These incidents made up roughly 8% of all reported accidents in the Sunflower State that year. It’s a clear reminder that speed kills! Sadly, but not surprisingly, 75 lives were tragically lost in these accidents, and a staggering 1,969 individuals suffered injuries.
Whether it’s 5 mph or 20 mph over the speed limit, speeding increases the risk of crashes and catastrophic and fatal injuries.
When a driver is speeding, they have less time to react and avoid a collision by braking or maneuvering. Additionally, the faster they’re traveling, the more stopping distance the car requires. Often, even when a speeding driver brakes, they cannot avoid causing an accident. Speeding also increases the force of impact, significantly reducing the ability of a vehicle’s safety systems, such as seat belts and airbags, to protect occupants from severe or fatal injuries.
Impaired or Intoxicated Driving
The dangers of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated have been well documented. We’ve all heard or experienced the heart-wrenching tales of the aftermath when someone drinks and decides to drive. It’s a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences that can follow such a choice.
Besides, drunk driving is illegal. A DUI conviction carries severe penalties, including a 90-day to one-year imprisonment for a second to fifth DUI offense. Still, some drivers are daring enough to make the reckless decision to drive after too much drinking.
When a drunk driving collision occurs, severe injuries and fatalities occur, and entire families are forced to suffer the loss. According to a report published by the Kansas Department of Transportation, there were 2,158 alcohol-related crashes in 2021. These crashes accounted for 3.7% of the total crashes in the state. During the same year, drinking and driving resulted in 1,194 injuries and 86 fatalities.
Even though 0.08% is the legal BAC limit for adults in Kansas, no matter how little a person has had to drink, it is never a good idea to operate a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or other drugs. An impaired motorist puts everyone on the road in danger because alcohol hampers judgment, vision, and reaction time.
Car crashes caused by impaired driving are among the most preventable crashes seen on Kansas roads. If you got hurt or lost a loved one in a DUI accident, Bretz Injury Law can help you pursue the compensation you need for the costs related to your injuries, other damages, or losing a loved one. Our car accident attorneys will leave no stone unturned to uncover critical evidence to build a solid legal strategy to support your claim.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is another common cause of car accidents, accounting for 1 out of 5 crashes in Kansas. In 2021, law enforcement officers in Kansas reported 1,950 distracted driving crashes, including 16 fatal accidents and 887 crashes that resulted in injuries.
Distractions come in different forms, from using a vehicle’s GPS navigation system or stereo to talking or texting while driving. However, texting and talking while driving are the most common forms of distraction.
When drivers take their attention off the road or their hands off the wheel to engage in tasks other than focusing on the road, catastrophic accidents occur. It only takes a split second of inattention for a driver to cause a crash.
Proving that a driver was distracted after an accident can pose a significant challenge. The driver responsible for the collision might deny any distractions, and insurance companies may attempt to deny liability. At Bretz Injury Law, we firmly believe that you shouldn’t bear the financial burden of the aftermath of a crash because of a distracted driver’s negligence. That’s why we aggressively pursue cases involving distracted driving accidents and fight for our clients’ rights.
Reckless Driving
Driving carefully is common sense for most drivers, but some people will think nothing of running stop signs or a red light, tailgating, or failing to yield the right of way because they are in a hurry. This puts all road users at risk. Several situations are considered reckless driving, including:
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Passing in a no-passing lane
- Driving with faulty equipment
- Running traffic signals
- Driving without headlights or brake lights
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Road rage
- Entering the highway through the exit ramp
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Fatigued or Drowsy Driving
Drowsy or fatigued driving is more common than you might think. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of 25 drivers had fallen asleep behind the wheel in the past 30 days.
When a driver is tired or nodding off, reaction time, judgment, and problem-solving are significantly impaired, which may cause tragic accidents. Often, tired drivers cause devastating wrong-way and head-on crashes, most of which are fatal.
Accidents caused by fatigued or sleep-deprived drivers can be challenging to prove. After all, unlike impaired driving cases, there are no tests to prove a driver nodded off. When a drowsy motorist causes a crash that results in injuries, turn to Bretz Injury Law to hold them accountable.
Tailgating
Unfortunately, driving too closely to the vehicle in front, also known as tailgating, is a widespread and perilous driving practice. This behavior often arises from impatience, distraction, and road rage. It is not uncommon for drivers to miscalculate the time and distance needed to come to a safe stop, underestimating the potential risks involved.
When tailgating leads to a car accident, the consequences can be severe, causing whiplash, neck and back injuries, and other catastrophic injuries. To maintain a safe distance, drivers should maintain a following distance of at least three seconds under normal circumstances. However, a six-second following distance is recommended when weather conditions are adverse.
Road and Weather Conditions
Bad weather and road conditions can create nearly impossible driving conditions. Rain, fog, snow, icy roads, and other conditions are frequently at fault for some of the most tragic car accidents. Teenage and elderly drivers may be particularly vulnerable to road and weather-related crashes.
In adverse weather or challenging road conditions that hinder visibility or vehicle control, drivers must adjust their driving to avoid putting the lives of other road users at risk.
Wrong-Way Driving
Unfortunately, drivers often cause wrong-way crashes when unfamiliar with the area, inexperienced, distracted, or intoxicated. Wrong-way accidents result in some of the most tragic crashes, causing devastating injuries and fatalities.
If you suffered injuries in a wrong-way accident, it’s imperative that you speak to a Kansas car accident lawyer about your rights. Liability may not always be clear-cut in these cases. Our legal team will collect all evidence necessary to hold the other driver liable. You should not have to shoulder the consequences of somebody else’s mistakes.
Get Skilled Legal Assistance After a Kansas Car Accident
Regardless of the cause, you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible if you’ve been in a car crash in Kansas. Determining your accident’s actual cause and navigating the complexities of auto insurance claims and prospective litigation can be challenging. Complicated cases demand skilled attorneys! There’s no room for mistakes when you’re fighting for your future.
At Bretz Injury Law, we have won a wide range of car accident cases for clients throughout Kansas. We consistently secure fair settlements and verdicts for one simple reason: we prioritize your unique needs and pursue your case with dedication and focus. Let us fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Put the power of our result-driven legal team to work for you.
Call 620-RESULTS or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.
