Most car accidents happen for the simple reason of unsafe driving behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, tailgating, and failure to yield. These unsafe behaviors result in mistakes that could have been avoided with more care on the road.

Across the U.S., traffic crashes affect people in all kinds of places, not just big cities. Upland, for example, which became a city on May 15, 1906, is a growing city in California with busy commuter roads. Here accidents involving cars are not uncommon.

If you or your loved one ever get involved in a car accident, it is important you turn to a legal professional from the Upland law firm. These professionals help protect your legal rights.

Before understanding the legal rights, it is important to know some of the most common causes of car accidents. So that you can make the right legal step.

Speeding

This is usually one of the most common causes of accidents anywhere in the world. This usually starts with being in a hurry and then going above the speed limit.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 29% of fatal crashes in the U.S. involve speeding, which is a hard number to ignore. Faster cars mean less reaction time and much harder impacts.

Wide roads make speeding feel harmless. Until a car stops suddenly or a light turns red. That’s when it goes wrong. No matter how safe the road is, driving at a high speed is dangerous.

Impaired Driving

Alcohol and drugs influence driving judgment, even when drivers think they’re “fine.”

Impaired driving continues to cause severe accidents across California every year. Many of these crashes happen at night, when visibility is already lower and reaction time matters more.

It’s one of those things everyone knows is dangerous. Yet people still risk it. The consequences don’t feel real until they are.

Distracted Driving

A quick glance at a phone doesn’t feel risky, right? But many have lost their lives because of this behavior. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that thousands of people die every year due to distracted driving, with hundreds of thousands more injured.

Texting, scrolling, and even adjusting a playlist can pull attention away long enough to cause a crash. This is especially true in busy streets in Upland, where sudden stops are common. Miss one, and that’s it.

Tailgating

Tailgating is where a driver follows another too closely. Most of the time, keeping distance doesn’t feel urgent. Until it suddenly is.

Tailgating leads to a lot of rear-end accidents, especially during rush hour. During these times, cars are stacked too close, sometimes with almost no breathing room. One driver brakes, and the chain reaction begins.

Failure to Yield

Failing to yield is a major cause of side-impact crashes and happens when a driver ignores the right-of-way. This often occurs at intersections, especially during left turns.

Driving in a rush through yellow lights increases the risk. These crashes tend to be severe because there’s less protection on the side of a car. A few extra seconds of patience can make all the difference.

Key Takeaways

  • Speeding plays a role in nearly 29% of fatal crashes.
  • Impaired driving continues to cause serious harm.
  • Distracted driving kills thousands each year.
  • Tailgating leads to rear-end collisions.
  • Failure to yield makes intersections dangerous.
  • Drive slower. Pay attention. It really does matter.