What Are 90% of Car Accidents Caused By?

More than 90% of car accidents are caused by driver error, including preventable mistakes such as distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving. A car accident can happen in seconds, but the injuries, medical expenses, and emotional stress that follow can affect your life for months or even years.

When another driver’s negligence causes a crash, a California car accident attorney can help investigate what happened, establish who was responsible, and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to receive. Compensation may include medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses. In certain cases involving extreme misconduct, punitive damages may also be available.

What Is the Main Cause of Most Car Accidents?

Human error is the leading cause of most car accidents in California. Common mistakes behind the wheel include aggressive driving, distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving. These behaviors can increase the risk of collisions and may determine who is responsible for the resulting injuries and damages.

How Does Aggressive Driving Cause Car Accidents?

Aggressive driving includes unsafe behaviors that increase the risk of serious collisions. Drivers who speed, follow too closely, ignore traffic signals, or make unsafe maneuvers can put other motorists at risk and may be responsible for the injuries they cause.

How Does Speeding Cause Car Accidents?

Speeding is one of the most common causes of serious car accidents. When drivers travel too fast, they have less time to react to changing traffic conditions, avoid hazards, or stop safely. Higher speeds also increase the force of impact, making collisions more likely to result in severe injuries or fatalities.

How Does Tailgating Lead to Car Crashes?

Tailgating occurs when a driver follows another vehicle too closely, leaving little time to react if traffic suddenly slows or stops. This aggressive driving behavior significantly increases the risk of rear-end collisions and may make the following driver legally responsible for damages caused by the crash.

What Is Failure to Maintain a Proper Lookout (FMPL)?

Failure to Maintain a Proper Lookout (FMPL) means a driver was not paying adequate attention to the road, surrounding traffic, or changing driving conditions. Common examples include running red lights, making unsafe turns, changing lanes without checking blind spots, failing to signal, or overlooking hazards that could have been avoided with reasonable care.

Aggressive driving may establish legal liability under California personal injury law. Depending on the circumstances, an injured victim may pursue compensation under the legal principles of ordinary negligence or negligence per se.

Can Aggressive Driving Be Considered Negligence?

Yes. Ordinary negligence occurs when a driver fails to exercise reasonable care to prevent harm to others. Actions such as speeding, tailgating, or making unsafe lane changes can breach this duty of care. If that breach directly causes a collision and resulting injuries, the injured party may be entitled to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.

How Does Negligence Per Se Apply to Car Accident Cases?

Negligence per se applies when a driver violates a traffic or safety law intended to protect the public. For example, if a driver receives a citation for speeding or another traffic violation that substantially contributed to a crash, that violation may serve as evidence of negligence in a personal injury claim. An experienced attorney can evaluate how these legal principles apply to the specific facts of a case.

How Does Impaired Driving Cause Car Accidents?

Impaired driving occurs when a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle is affected by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, or other conditions. These impairments reduce reaction time, judgment, coordination, and awareness, increasing the likelihood of serious car accidents.

How Does Alcohol Impair Driving?

Alcohol affects judgment, coordination, vision, and reaction time, making it more difficult for drivers to safely respond to changing traffic conditions. Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of a collision, while higher levels of impairment significantly raise the likelihood of serious or fatal crashes.

How Can Drug Use Lead to Car Accidents?

Both illegal drugs and certain prescription or over-the-counter medications can impair driving ability. Depending on the substance, drivers may experience slower reaction times, reduced concentration, impaired decision-making, or blurred vision. Driving under the influence of drugs can result in criminal penalties and civil liability if a crash occurs.

How Does Fatigue Affect Driving?

Driver fatigue can impair concentration, slow reaction times, and reduce awareness of surrounding traffic. Drowsy drivers may drift between lanes, miss traffic signals, or even fall asleep behind the wheel, increasing the risk of serious collisions.

Can Distracted Driving Be Considered Driver Impairment?

Yes. Distracted driving is another form of driver impairment. Activities such as texting, using a mobile phone, adjusting a GPS, eating, or interacting with passengers can divert a driver’s attention from the road. When these distractions contribute to a collision, the driver may be held responsible for the resulting injuries and damages.

Can an Impaired Driver Be Held Liable for an Accident?

Drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles with reasonable care. When alcohol, drugs, fatigue, or distractions impair that ability and contribute to a crash, the injured party may pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. Depending on the circumstances, claims may be based on ordinary negligence or negligence per se when a traffic or DUI law has been violated.

In some cases, punitive damages may also be available if there is clear and convincing evidence that the at-fault driver knowingly disregarded the safety of others, such as by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

What Other Factors Cause Car Accidents?

Although driver negligence contributes to the majority of car accidents, some crashes result from defective vehicle components or hazardous road conditions. Tire blowouts, brake failures, steering system defects, poor road maintenance, and missing traffic signs can all increase the risk of serious collisions.

Can a Vehicle Manufacturer Be Held Liable for a Car Accident?

Yes. If a defective vehicle or auto part contributed to a crash, the manufacturer or another responsible party may be held liable under California product liability laws. Depending on the circumstances, injured victims may be able to recover compensation without proving traditional negligence.

When Should You Contact a California Car Accident Attorney?

If you were injured because of another driver’s negligence or a defective vehicle, speaking with a California car accident attorney as soon as possible can help protect your rights. An attorney can investigate the accident, gather evidence, determine liability, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the maximum compensation available for your injuries and losses.

Most car accidents are preventable and result from driver negligence, including distracted driving, speeding, aggressive driving, and impaired driving. If you or a loved one has been injured in a California car accident, the Law Offices of Eslamboly Hakim can help you understand your legal rights, investigate your claim, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.