Top 10 Major Causes of Most Highway Accidents

Whenever a family member leaves the house to drive somewhere, it is common to wish them to “Be safe.” That is a nice reminder for a driver to be responsible and stay focused on the road ahead. We are in charge of our own driving, but we can’t control how other drivers operate their vehicles. When they fail to carry out the duty of care they owe other drivers, they cross the line into negligence, and that leads to accidents.

No matter what kind of accident you are involved in, it will upend your life. The best-case scenario will mean a minor fender bender with just a dent and no injuries. The worst-case scenario involves having your car totaled and injuries that require hospitalization and weeks of recovery.

In serious car accidents, you would be well-served by speaking to the attorneys at Hendrickson & Long, PLLC. We have helped many clients find fair compensation for their losses due to another driver’s negligence. Sometimes, challenging an insurance company is the only option, and that begins with establishing who was clearly at fault in the accident.

According to the most recent data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 6,102,936 police-reported traffic crashes in just one year of the study. That translates to one person being killed every 12 minutes and five people being injured every minute in car crashes.

The following are the top ten major causes of most highway accidents.

1. Speeding

Everyone is guilty of speeding at some point in their driving career, especially on the highway. Often, going over the speed limit is not intentional as much as you’re just keeping up with the flow of traffic and might not even realize you’re speeding. The real issue with speeding has to do with stopping. At higher speeds, it is more difficult to come to a complete sudden stop. Even if you’re traveling at the speed limit, you still need around 300 feet to bring your car to a stop.

2. Driving Under the Influence

If you’ve ever indulged in alcohol or drugs, you know how they can impair your judgment and your focus. The moment you feel that “buzz,” however slight, you are impaired. Ironically, that impairment often comes with a sense of invulnerability. You think you’re fine to drive when, in truth, you’re putting yourself and others at risk. The NHTSA found that alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 31% of total car fatalities across the country.

3. Potholes

Potholes are often seasonal, with most opening up in the winter. As highways freeze and then the ice melts, cracks form, leading to potholes. The West Virginia Department of Transportation has a website portal where you can report potholes, but that often happens after they have already caused damage to your car.

A driver might also approach a pothole, panic, swerve to avoid it, and end up crashing into another vehicle. They might be able to justify their actions, but they would still be at fault in the accident. The city and state might also be held accountable if they were made aware of the pothole but didn’t take reasonable steps to repair the hole.

4. Bad Weather

Charleston residents experience all the potential bad weather scenarios, including rain, flash flooding, snow, and ice. Any one of those weather conditions can make roads slippery and lead to a chain reaction of collisions. When it rains or snows, every driver needs to slow down.

5. Driving at Night

When the sun goes down, turning on a car’s headlights does not always offer a clear view ahead. Low visibility at night, especially in rural interstates without streetlights, can increase the risk of getting into an accident. Nighttime driving is also when folks are naturally drowsier, which leads to more risks.

Then, there is the issue of striking animals on a dark road. According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, the state leads the nation in deer strike accidents, with 10,618 deer being hit on West Virginia highways in 2023.

6. Distracted Driving

No one is immune from distractions while driving. The number one cause of distracted driving is texting while driving. That is why West Virginia enacted its version of a hands-free driving law in 2012. Despite the law, there are still accidents caused by drivers who are texting, dialing, or talking on their phones. That’s not the only possible distraction behind the wheel. Consider these distractions:

• Eating
• Drinking
• Smoking
• Putting on make-up
• Adjusting the radio
• Talking to passengers
• Rubbernecking accidents
• Picking up a fallen object

When you take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel, you become distracted and potentially lose control of your car.

7. Reckless Driving

In some way, reckless driving can be thought of as selfish driving. When a driver does something unpredictable, like swerving across the highway to get to an exit or making a lane change without signaling, they are being reckless. They think their destination is the priority, and everyone else will just have to get out of the way. That rarely works in their favor.

8. Tailgating

When traffic slows down on the highway, the cars close ranks. Unfortunately, that is a dangerous scenario that can lead to a chain reaction set of collisions. The only way to prevent tailgating is to slow down and ensure you have enough braking space between the car ahead of you. That should be around the same length of a football field.

9. Teenage Drivers

Thousands of teenagers turn sixteen every year and race to get their driver’s licenses. Before they get the license, they need to pass the driver’s exam, which includes a road test. Then, there are limits on who they can drive with and when. Despite all that new knowledge and restrictions, teenagers get into many accidents simply because they don’t have the experience or confidence to drive safely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) find that the fatal crash rate among teenage drivers is three times as high as among drivers over 20.

10. Car Defects

Human error accounts for the majority of causes of car crashes. However, there are also crashes resulting from a car defect. That could mean a tire blowout at high speeds or a brake system failure. In some instances, those defects can be traced back to a manufacturer error. In that case, those companies can be held liable for damages. Issuing a recall doesn’t mean they aren’t responsible.

Getting Help with Your Car Accident

If you get into a car accident, the first person you’ll ask for help is the 911 operator who is going to dispatch first responders. After that, you might ask for help from a medical professional, a mechanic, and your family. You should also add Hendrickson & Long, PLLC, to that list. We are experienced attorneys who help clients with their car accident claims, no matter the cause. Call to set up a case evaluation to discuss what happened in your accident.