To drive a car is to undertake a massive responsibility every time you step behind the wheel. It manifests in simple tasks, such as remembering to put on your seat belt or check your lights. It constitutes more complex tasks like visiting a car repair shop once per year to make sure every part is working to the fullest of its ability. Despite your best efforts, however, accidents can still happen. When you’ve been the victim of a car crash you’re likely dealing with shattered confidence on top of medical bills and insurance claims.
A car accident attorney can help you through these murky waters and lead you to the other side before you know it.
The United States is a country that shoulders the weight of millions of car crashes every year. The span between 2003 and 2007, for example, saw over 190,000 fatal car crashes across the country. Fast forward a few more years to 2010 and the total property damage costs from car accidents alone reached $76 billion. That’s nearly 30% of all economic costs. Although this may be a common occurrence, that’s no reason to neglect hiring a car accident attorney to help you figure out the process toward getting your life back together again.
What causes a car crash? A few different factors. One of the most common, as well as most underrated, is that of distracted driving. This involves attempting to operate a vehicle while texting, changing the radio dial, eating or talking to people in the back seat. It only takes a split second to get involved in a crash, that of which is easily compromised by picking up the phone to send a message. Back in 2013 fatal transportation injuries accounted for an astonishing two out of every five fatal work injuries.
Drunk driving is more commonly known, but that hasn’t stopped these numbers from being on the rise. The economic cost of car accidents in the country exceeded $242 billion back in 2014 and a significant number is due to many drivers trying to operate their truck or car while under the influence of alcohol. It’s important to remember that driving under the influence also extends to illegal drugs and over-the-counter medication. Allergy medicine, for example, causes notable drowsiness and impaired motor control not unlike the effects of alcohol.
Aggressive driving, unfortunately, is also on the rise. More than half of fatal crashes between 2003 and 2007 involved one driver, if not two, being described as ‘potentially committing an aggressive action’. Also known as ‘road rage’, this epidemic ends lives and causes severe injury nearly every day. More than 70% of respondents to a 2008 AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index saw aggressive drivers rated as either a ‘serious’ or ‘extremely serious’ safety issue. An auto injury lawyer may be someone to turn to after a road rage incident.
Last, but certainly not least, a major contributor to car accidents is simple vehicle neglect. Vehicle neglect costs the American economy tens of millions of dollars every year and, perhaps worst of all, is easily avoided with a proactive attitude. Oil changes, tire rotation and windshield repairs are all factors in creating a vehicle that can operate safely and smoothly every time it goes out onto the open road. A car accident attorney will be familiar with the factors that go into a crash and, subsequently, how to help you financially.
Let an auto accident attorney help you with gathering witnesses, filing for court hearings and getting you the help you need to recover from a car accident.
