Car accidents happen for a variety of reasons, and these accidents may often be minor fender-benders that cause nothing more than a little bit of hassle and irritation; however, car accidents may also be terrible pile-ups or collisions that result in severe injury, disability, or loss of life. All car accidents occur because of certain factors, and these factors have been identified through statistics and studies. The first and most common reason for car accidents is drivers who don’t pay enough attention to what they are doing while they’re behind the wheel…these drivers may be texting, eating, or using cell phones when an accident occurs, or they may be daydreaming, preoccupied with their own thoughts and emotions, or too tired to be fully alert on the road. If you’re occasionally (or frequently) guilty of driver distraction, analyze the negative habits you display behind the wheel and make some changes. To avoid the temptation to text or make phone calls at intersections (or in other driving situations), lock your phone or Blackberry in the glove box, and promise yourself that you won’t risk someone else’s life (and your own) by getting out mobile communication devices while your car is in transit. If you tend to daydream while you putter along, find ways to stay more alert behind the wheel…for example, remind yourself periodically that driver distraction is the number one cause of death and injury on rural roads, city streets, and busy highways. Never let your guard down while you’re driving – after all, it’s not just your driving you need to worry about – other people’s “driver distraction” may also factor in, and you may need to react in a split second. The second most common reason why car accidents occur is because drivers go way too fast while they’re behind the wheel. These types of drivers are the notorious “lead foots” who treat public roadways like high-speed Autobahns. Speeding turns a car into a deadly weapon, and one small mistake can be the last mistake a speeding driver ever makes. If you’re prone to this terrible habit, sit down and review your reasons for flouting the law and risking the lives of others. Once you’ve looked deeper into your own motivations, you can begin to solve the problem and move forward as a safer, more socially-responsible driver. If you’re driving fast because you’re an adrenaline junkie, find a safer outlet for your risk-taking (or an outlet that only risks your own health and safety, instead of risking other’s people’s lives). If you’re speeding to get somewhere on time, look at your own lifestyle and organizational skills; chances are, if you planned your time better, you’d be more successful in many different areas of your life. A third factor that often contributes to car accidents is driving while intoxicated – drunk driving is a potentially deadly decision that may haunt a person for the rest of his or her life. Once a person has had a few drinks, his or her reflexes, reaction times, and spatial abilities plummet. While it may be tempting to drive after having “just a few drinks”, it can be a choice that leads to arrest, conviction, and a criminal record. A DUI arrest stains the reputation, because drunk driving often kills innocent people…to others, the act of choosing to drive after drinking alcohol sends a message of selfishness and recklessness. For those who do kill others through their own drunk driving, the guilt and shame of taking another person’s life can be truly debilitating…and the sense of grief and self-loathing that is experienced after an accident can ruin a drunk driver’s life for a very long time. The causes of car accidents may also include aggressive driving – after all, cutting people off can lead to road rage, accidents, and altercations… mechanical failure may also play a role in some car crashes. Keeping your vehicle well-maintained at all times will help to protect you, and so will driving defensively – not offensively. Bad weather is also proven to play a role in car accidents, so be very careful on rainy or icy roads, and be wary of driving in high winds and lightning storms. Now that you know the most common reasons why car accidents happen, you can learn to break bad habits and to prevent injuries, fatalities, and legal problems related to getting behind the wheel. Further reading – Road Accident Claims