Car Accident Information, Car Accidents

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Texas 2022

According to recent statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation, car accidents in the Austin, Texas, region are an all-too-common occurrence. As of 2020, a total of 12,974 car crashes occurred in Austin, and a total of 31,295 individuals were involved in those crashes.

While 3,479 Austin motor vehicle crashes involved some type of distracted driving, 1,185 accidents resulted from intoxicated driving – where a driver was impaired by alcohol. Finally, a total of 5,249 motor vehicle accidents took place at traffic intersections – such as where a driver ran a red light or failed to yield the right-of-way at the appropriate time.

In recent years, the top causes of motor vehicle crashes throughout Texas were:

• Speeding (136,383 crashes)
• Distracted driving (94,876 accidents)
• Unsafe lane changes (36,238 crashes)
• Unsafe merging (34,157 crashes)
• Failing to yield the right-of-way when making a left turn (30,741 crashes) – such as on a solid green light where no green arrow is present. Other accidents happen because of defective car parts, such as airbags, frames, steering mechanisms, and braking components.

Victims of Texas car crashes often suffer extremely serious injuries which result in medical treatment, physical therapy, and even around-the-clock care.

If you or a person you care about has suffered injuries in a minor or major car accident that resulted from another driver’s negligence, you are not alone. The skilled team of car accident lawyers at TK Injury Lawyers is here to help. We can discuss your car accident with you right away and explain your legal options in clear and easy-to-understand terms. We could then help you file a claim or lawsuit and pursue the monetary compensation that you deserve for your injuries.

Common Causes of Car Crashes

Most of the time, car accidents result from driver negligence. Some common types of driver negligence that lead to car crashes include:

• Violating rules of the road – Texas road rules are in place to keep motor vehicle drivers and their passengers safe. However, many drivers choose to disregard these rules when they get behind the wheel of a car or truck. Road rule violations that can lead to serious accidents include speeding, failing to use a turn signal, aggressive driving, tailgating other vehicles, and failing to yield the right-of-way when it’s appropriate to do so.
• Distracted driving – Distracted driving means failing to pay attention to the road. Instead of the road, a distracted driver might be texting, programming a GPS device, listening to loud music, or roughhousing with others in the vehicle. When a driver diverts their attention away from the road – even for a short period of time – they might inadvertently cause a serious crash.
• Impaired driving – Impaired driving means operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol can slow down a driver’s reaction time, preventing them from stopping their vehicle in time to avoid a crash. It might also cause the accident victim to experience blurry vision and other physical symptoms that prevent them from driving safely.

In other instances, car accidents do not result from driver error. Instead, they happen because of:

• Negligent repair work – Where a repair facility does not perform work in a careful and workmanlike manner, causing the vehicle to malfunction while out on the road, leading to an accident
• Defective vehicle parts – Where vehicle part manufacturers and distributors fail to exercise reasonable care when designing and testing their products, and the part – such as a braking system, airbag, or steering mechanism – malfunctions and causes a roadway accident

If you have suffered injuries in a car accident that resulted from someone else’s negligence, an experienced Austin car accident lawyer can help you pursue the compensation that you deserve for everything that you went through.

Common Causes of Fatal Car Accidents

Some car accidents are so serious that the accident victim suffers fatal injuries in the crash. Fatal accidents often result from drunk drivers who operate their vehicles at high rates of speed. Head-on collisions can also lead to fatal car crashes – especially where the at-fault driver crosses the median strip or double line and strikes an oncoming vehicle in the opposing travel lane.

Fatal crashes also commonly occur when drivers fail to yield the right-of-way at traffic intersections. The driver might be in a hurry to get through a yellow or red traffic light and may strike a vehicle that is moving through the intersection on an adjacent roadway. High-speed intersection crashes might cause the vehicle on the receiving end to overturn, resulting in a fatal injury for the driver or passenger.

Potential Damages in Austin Car Accident Cases

Victims of Austin car crashes that result from another driver’s negligence may be eligible to recover various damages. The damages that a car crash victim could recover will depend upon the extent of their injuries, their medical treatment, and other factors. Victims of car accidents in Austin could pursue damages for all of their:

• Related medical treatment bills
• Lost earnings
• Loss of earning capacity, if they suffered a permanent injury in their accident
• Pain and suffering
• Mental distress
• Inconvenience
• Loss of the use of a body part
• Loss of life enjoyment
• Loss of spousal companionship
• Loss of family support

In fatal car accident cases, the accident victim’s family members could bring a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver. As part of that claim, they could pursue compensation for their loved one’s funeral and burial expenses, future lost wages, and loss of their care, comfort, and companionship.

Contact an Austin Car Accident Lawyer Today for More Information

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in an Austin car crash, the skilled legal team at TK Injury Lawyers is here to help. You need legal representation you can trust so you can obtain all the financial recovery you need. For a free legal consultation and case evaluation with a knowledgeable Austin car accident attorney, please call today at (512) 582-2398 or contact us online.