Finding yourself caught up in a car accident is the worst nightmare of many a driver. The consequences can range from psychological trauma to physical injury—not to mention the financial costs that come with being involved in an accident.

Making sure that you are taken care of after an incident is a key priority to us, and this can involve proving the liability of another partyand ensuring that your costs and expenses are covered.

What Can Cause an Accident?

Every time you get behind the wheel, you are effectively taking charge of a lethal weapon, and this applies to all others on the road. The cause of accidents is varied but can often be attributed to the reckless or negligent behavior of other drivers.

Some common causes include:

  • A Driver Who is Distracted: taking to the road requires 100% concentration on the situation in front of you, and distractions can be a significant cause of accidents. Cell phone use is a key player here.A driver who is distracted by texting is 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash,so texting or talking on the phone while driving are both significant activities to avoid.

Eating or drinking can also cause a driver to be distracted, as can personal grooming, such as combing hair or applying makeup. Other passengers in the car can also cause a distraction if they are talking and demanding attention. In-car systems, such as navigation, SatNav, or music systems,couldlikewise divert the attention of the driver from the road.

  • A Driver Who is Under the Influence: any driver with a blood alcohol content of 08% or higher is considered to be over the limit. This is further reduced to 0.04% for commercial drivers or 0.02% for a driver under the age of 21. Despite these limits, almost 30 people die in the United States every day due to drunk driving—that is a total of over 10000 lives per year.
  • A Poorly Maintained Vehicle: accidents can sometimes be caused by a vehicle which has been poorly maintained or inadequately repaired. Faulty brakes, worn tires, a broken steering system, and many other factors can all make it more difficult for a driver to regain control of the car in an emergency and could contribute to an accident. If you can prove that the driver was aware or should have been aware of the issue and failed to rectify it, they may be liable.

Similarly, any defects or flaws which should have been acknowledged and rectified by the seller of the vehicle (or the manufacturer) can also leave them open to liability claims. In order to pursue this avenue, you will need to prove that the seller or manufacturer was aware, or should have been aware, and failed to recall the vehicle or fix the mistake. Any repairs which were undertaken incorrectly can also fall into this category. (In this instance, the fault lies with the mechanic or auto shop.)

  • A Driver Who Lacks Experience: statistics show that teen drivers (ages 16-20) are twice as likely to find themselves involved in a crash than those between the ages of 20 and 24, three times as likely to be in an accident than those in the 25-29 age bracket, and over four times as likely to be caught up in a crash as those between the ages of 30 and 60. A lack of experience can result in reduced confidence and poor judgment, as well as an increased chance that they will participate in risky behavior. Drivers may wish to show off in front of friends, be more likely to speed or drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or fail to obey the rules of the road. Distractions can also be more common in this age group, especially if the car is full of teens.

What Can I Do if I Am Involved in an Accident?

If you are the victim of a car accident, you may be in a position to claim damages and compensation from the other driver, if it can be proven that their actions contributed directly to the crash, or that they were negligent. In addition, you will need to prove that you were in no way to blame for the crash; Alabama operates under the practice of contributory negligence, meaning that you are prohibited from claiming damages if you are considered to be partially at fault.

Here at Pharr & Associates Injury Attorneys, we make it our mission to help you secure the justice you deserve. Our experienced team of attorneys will work with you to help find the best course of action and to fight for the justice you deserve. Get in touch today and see how we can help.