How Auto Accidents Happen

Posted October 26, 2019

How Auto Accidents Happen

Lafayette Car Accident Lawyers at Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards Are Here to Help

In a national study, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that about 41 percent of the critical reasons behind motor vehicle accidents are driver recognition errors. The NHTSA includes such factors as inattention, internal and external distractions, inadequate surveillance, etc. as contributing to these errors behind the wheel.

Also, 34 percent of the critical accident causes attributed to the driver were decision errors such as driving aggressively, driving too fast, or failing to yield. About 10 percent were caused by performance errors, such as overcompensation or loss of control.

Many car accidents are the result of poor decisions on the part of a driver or someone else, a decision they should be held responsible for if someone is injured or killed. If you have been involved in a serious vehicle accident in Louisiana because of negligence by another driver, contact the experienced motor vehicle accident lawyers at Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards.

Our attorneys can help if the accident you were injured in was caused by:

Distracted Driving: There are many ways that drivers become distracted while behind the wheel, but cell phone use and texting are among the most dangerous behaviors by distracted drivers. Distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives in 2017 across the United States, which was nine percent of all fatal crashes.

Speeding: Driving too fast continues to be a top cause of car accidents. The increased speed brings in other consequences, including greater potential for loss of vehicle control, making it harder to stop, and the higher speeds cause more severe accidents and injuries.

Fatigue: A drowsy driver may fail to react to a car that stops ahead or can drift off the road or into an oncoming lane of traffic. The NHTSA estimates that in 2017, 91,000 police-reported crashes across the nation involved drowsy drivers.

Drunk Driving: Each day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes – that is almost one every 48 minutes. Our lawyers are dedicated to representing those who have been injured by drunk drivers, and their families. A drunk driver may face prosecution for driving while intoxicated, but a conviction will not provide any financial relief for those who have been harmed by a drunk driver. An accident victim must pursue a separate civil lawsuit against the drunk driver to hold the driver accountable for any injuries or damage caused.

Aggressive Drivers: This includes several risky or harmful behaviors, including failure to yield, running red lights, tailgating, weaving in and out of lanes and unsafe passing. While aggressive driving is difficult to quantify, a 2009 study by the American Automobile Association attempted to identify behaviors associated with aggressive driving, based on data tracked by NHTSA’s Fatal Accident Report System (FARS). It found that aggressive driving played a role in 56 percent of fatal crashes from 2003 through 2007.

Unsafe Roads: The design of a road or highway – or a lack of road maintenance – can contribute to a crash. Our lawyers have experience in holding the company or government entity responsible for maintaining roads, or the design of a road, in a car accident that has included injuries and damages. Road safety issues include broken pavement or asphalt, obstructed views, drainage problems and missing or poorly placed signage.

Vehicle Malfunction: Accidents can be caused by a defective component on the vehicle, such as brakes, tires, ignition or airbags. This malfunction can be caused by a manufacturer’s error or lack of maintenance. In these accidents, the manufacturer, the driver of the vehicle or those who have performed the maintenance may be responsible

Contact Lafayette Auto Accident Lawyers

If you have been the victim of an auto accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be owed compensation for your injuries. It’s important to have an experienced car accident attorney on your side. We aggressively protect the rights of victims of accidents.

Contact our Lafayette car accident lawyers for a free consultation about your case. We have handled car accident claims for clients with serious injuries throughout Louisiana. We are ready to help you, and we will handle the negotiations with the insurance companies, or take your case to court if necessary.

Our award-winning lawyers specialize in motor vehicle accidents and personal injury law. We have been helping people get fair compensation after they have been injured in car accidents in Lafayette, New Iberia, Jennings, Opelousas, Lake Charles, Breaux Bridge and communities across Louisiana for decades. We treat our clients like family.

Call us today at 337-291-HURT, or statewide at 800-375-6186.