[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/main-causes-of-car-accidents-alabama\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/main-causes-of-car-accidents-alabama\/","headline":"The Main Causes of Car Accidents in Alabama \u2013 and How to Prevent Them","name":"The Main Causes of Car Accidents in Alabama \u2013 and How to Prevent Them","description":"Car accidents are common in Alabama. Nationally, our state ranks in the top ten for fatal accidents per capita. Worse, the number of fatal accidents has increased over the past three years. But there is good news. By understanding the causes of car accidents, we can learn to avoid them. In this article, Alabama car […]","datePublished":"2024-01-23","dateModified":"2025-08-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/author\/aprilcollins\/#Person","name":"April Collins","url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/author\/aprilcollins\/","identifier":26,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55a984f005d8b7837361f222628aa1007fd609f15ee5c477ae3e768972785d30?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55a984f005d8b7837361f222628aa1007fd609f15ee5c477ae3e768972785d30?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Collins Law, LLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/header-firm-logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/header-firm-logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/main-causes-of-car-accidents-alabama.png","url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/main-causes-of-car-accidents-alabama.png","height":658,"width":940},"url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/main-causes-of-car-accidents-alabama\/","about":["Auto Accidents","Driver Safety and Tips"],"wordCount":1208,"articleBody":"Car accidents are common in Alabama. Nationally, our state ranks in the top ten for fatal accidents per capita. Worse, the number of fatal accidents has increased over the past three years.But there is good news. By understanding the causes of car accidents, we can learn to avoid them. In this article, Alabama car accident lawyer will discuss the main causes of car accidents and provide tips on preventing them.The Three Main Causes of Car AccidentsCar accidents happen in various ways. However, these causes can be grouped into categories. The leading causes of accidents areRoad hazards,Mechanical malfunctions, andDriver error.Let\u2019s look at each of these three categories.How Road Hazards Cause Car AccidentsWhen we get behind the wheel, we usually assume that the road we\u2019re driving on is safe. But this is not always the case. Road defects play a role in about one-third of car crashes. There are many dangerous road defects.Debris. Trash, leaves, construction materials, and other items in the road can cause cars to skid or drivers to swerve.Defective design. Roads must be properly designed to be safe. Roads that lack proper drainage or guardrails or that have unnecessarily dangerous curves or uneven shoulders can lead to car crashes. Improper lighting and signage also fall under the design category.Inadequate maintenance. Roads must be maintained. If they aren\u2019t, hazards like potholes and cracks can appear. Failure to keep lane markers properly painted can also be an issue.If the road where your automobile accident happened was unsafe, you may have a claim against the government\u00a0that owns the road, the company responsible for maintenance, or others. Your Alabama personal injury attorney can tell you more about who might be responsible for your injuries.Related: Who can you sue for a car accident in Alabama.How Mechanical Defects Cause Car AccidentsWe trust our cars to operate properly. However, cars do sometimes malfunction. Most vehicle failures involve issues with the tires, brakes, or steering mechanisms. Although car defects play a role in just two percent of all crashes, because these failures are often unexpected, these accidents can have major consequences.If vehicle defects contributed to your accident, you may have a claim against the manufacturer as well as other drivers. Your Birmingham accident lawyer can tell you if this is the case.How Driver Errors Cause Car AccidentsWhile road defects and mechanical failures are important factors in many car crashes, the vast majority of crashes \u2013\u00a0 over 90% \u2013\u00a0 are caused by driver error. Generally, these errors can be grouped into the following categories: impairment, performance errors, and distractions.ImpairmentsImpaired drivers are those who get behind the wheel while they are unable to think clearly. Perhaps the most common example of impaired driving is drunk driving, but this category also includes less obvious impairments. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), \u201cdrowsy drivers\u201d are responsible for more than 300,000 accidents each year. Driving while experiencing strong emotions also increases the likelihood of an accident.Performance ErrorsWhen we think about accidents caused by driver error, these are the mistakes that usually come to mind. This category includes actions such asFailing to yield,Running a red light or stop sign,Speeding,Making an improper lane change,Failure to signal a lane change, andFollowing too closely.It\u2019s easy to see why these actions cause accidents. Running a red light creates danger for those who are moving through the intersection in the opposite direction. Following another car too closely reduces the amount of time and space that a driver has to react to sudden changes made by the car in front.DistractionsDriving requires our full attention, so distracted driving is particularly dangerous. Distractions come in three forms.Visual distractions\u00a0are actions that take a driver\u2019s eyes off the road. This can include looking at your phone, a GPS device, backseat passengers, an accident, or the landscape.Manual distractions\u00a0take the driver\u2019s hands off the wheel. Drinking, eating, applying makeup, texting, and reaching for objects are all examples of manual distractions.Mental distractions\u00a0let the driver\u2019s mind drift away from the task of driving. Daydreaming, talking to others, and even singing along to the radio can all shift a driver\u2019s mental focus.How You Can Prevent Car AccidentsWhile car accidents have many causes, the good news is that you can do things to protect yourself, your loved ones, and other drivers. Here are some tips.Tips to Prevent Accidents Due to Road IssuesWhile drivers have very little control over road conditions, most road defects are fairly easy to see. If you see a pothole or other road hazard, avoid it if you can. (Don\u2019t swerve unnecessarily, though.) If you can\u2019t avoid the danger, slow down as much as possible.Tips to Prevent Accidents Due to Mechanical FailureKnowing about a defect before you get behind the wheel is the best protection against mechanical issues. Take your car in for all scheduled maintenance appointments. Your mechanic might see the beginning signs of a potential problem. They can also tell you about any recalls issued by your car\u2019s manufacturer. (You can\u00a0look for vehicle recalls yourself\u00a0on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s official website.)Tips to Prevent Accidents Due to Driver ErrorDriver errors cause most accidents, but luckily,\u00a0 these accidents \u2013 especially distracted driving accidents \u2013 are also the most preventable. Here are some of the best safety tips for minimizing your errors and protecting you from other drivers\u2019 mistakes.Avoid intoxication. NEVER drive after consuming alcohol or street drugs. Talk to your doctor about how new prescription meds might affect your driving.Follow the law. Obey all signs and signals \u2013 including speed limit signs.Don\u2019t be a \u201cdrowsy driver.\u201d Avoid driving when not fully alert. If you\u2019re already driving and you feel sleepy, pull over to a safe area and take a quick nap or rent a hotel room for the night.Don\u2019t text and drive. NEVER use hand-held devices when driving. (It\u2019s the law!)Don\u2019t be a distracted driver. Don\u2019t eat, drink, or take part in other distractions while behind the wheel.Be a defensive driver. Defensive drivers make a point of not only looking ahead but also regularly checking their side and rear mirrors to see what\u2019s happening all around them. You can\u2019t control what other drivers do, but if you pay attention you\u2019ll have enough time to respond.Stay calm. Aggressive driving is emotional driving. Emotions cause us to make mistakes behind the wheel. Don\u2019t overreact to poor driving or rudeness.Need Help After an Alabama Car Accident?Whether your accident was caused by another driver\u2019s carelessness, the government\u2019s failure to care for the road, or a defective design, you have legal rights. If you\u2019re looking for a Birmingham car accident lawyer, please consider Collins Law, LLC. We\u2019ll investigate the causes of your accident and work tirelessly to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. To see how we can help you, call 205-588-1411 or use our website\u2019s online scheduling tool\u00a0to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Main Causes of Car Accidents in Alabama \u2013 and How to Prevent Them","item":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/main-causes-of-car-accidents-alabama\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]