Even if you feel like you’re a good driver, there are plenty of situations that we can get ourselves into in the heat of the moment. Even small distractions such as checking the GPS navigation or talking on the phone can result in devastating accidents. Most car accidents can be prevented by simply adjusting your driving habits and obeying traffic laws.
It’s important to know the top causes of car accidents in Tennessee so that you’re aware of potential problems you may encounter by other motorists or pedestrians and should make a change to avoid crashing. When you are in a car accident, you want to get to safety as quickly as possible. Doug Yates Towing & Recovery is a reliable towing service to meet your towing needs.
Top Causes Of Car Accidents
Tailgating
When you get behind a vehicle, try to leave three seconds between your car and the one in front of you to give yourself time to react if they brake suddenly. If possible, leave more than three seconds between the vehicles. Don’t forget that tailgating can also be dangerous in heavy traffic; drivers cannot see around large trucks or cars, so they may not realize that they are being followed too closely.
Failure to Yield
Tennessee law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing a street, motorcycles, and bicycles on the road. Drivers must also yield when entering an intersection if other vehicles are already there. If you do not yield, even if it is unintentional, you could be held liable for any damages resulting from this action.
Failure to Stay In Lane
If you are not paying attention while driving, you may be drifting out of your lane. This can happen for several reasons, including poor weather conditions or distractions inside or outside the vehicle. However, suppose you fail to stay in your lane and collide with another driver or object. In that case, this could lead to serious injuries for everyone involved (especially if other vehicles are involved).
Distracted Driving
Distractions can include anything that takes your eyes off the road, such as texting or talking on the phone, eating and drinking, adjusting the radio or climate control, reaching for something in your car, or even reading a book.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is any behavior that shows an extreme disregard for safety. These reckless drivers may speed excessively, tailgate or cut people off in traffic, weave in and out of lanes without using turn signals, make improper lane changes, run red lights and stop signs and fail to yield to pedestrians.
Speeding
Speed limits are set for a reason—to ensure safe travel on public roads. Speeding increases your chances of getting into an accident because it reduces reaction time when you must stop suddenly or avoid a hazard as another vehicle stops ahead of you at a red light. The faster you’re going, the less distance you have to stop safely if something unexpected happens ahead of you.
Improper Lane Changes
This happens when drivers do not check their blind spots, which is the area behind and beside them that they cannot see when making a lane change. Drivers are expected to check their blind spots before changing lanes; if they do not, they can be held liable for any resulting accidents.
Swerving
When drivers swerve, it usually means that they were trying to avoid hitting something or someone in their path. However, swerving can lead to loss of control over your vehicle, which could result in an accident with another vehicle or object in the roadway.
Running a Red Light
Running a red light is another major cause of car accidents in Tennessee because it requires drivers to make quick decisions while driving at high speeds on busy roads. As a result, many accidents occur when drivers try to beat the traffic light so that they can get through before it turns red again or when other drivers try to beat them through the intersection.
Improper Turns
When drivers make improper turns, they risk colliding with oncoming vehicles or getting into an accident with another vehicle that has the right-of-way. This type of accident usually occurs at intersections where one vehicle makes a left turn in front of another vehicle that is traveling straight through an intersection. In addition to causing injuries and fatalities, these accidents also cause significant damage to vehicles and property, as well as traffic delays and congestion due to road closures while police investigate the scene of the accident.
Keep Safe On the Roads
These causes alone can contribute to countless accidents and create risk for others on the road. With these causes, it is clear that reckless driving, speeding, and distracted driving contribute significantly to yearly accidents in Tennessee. More than likely, if one or all of these are being done while driving in a car, more than one accident will occur.
It is important to pay attention, be safe, and know what other drivers are doing. If you take precautionary steps when getting on the road, you can avoid becoming another statistic. If you encounter a vehicle situation, search for a towing company near me to get help quickly! Doug Yates Towing & Recovery knows how stressful these situations are, and we pride ourselves on arriving quickly.