Having a car might be an excellent way to get around, and our modern-day vehicles are much more convenient methods of transportation than most people had in the past. But, while being able to drive is a great thing, vehicles are large pieces of machinery that can be dangerous.
Most people have experienced car accidents. If you haven’t, you likely know someone who has. While driving safely is essential, there are specific kinds of accidents that are more common than others, and there are also driving behaviors that make you more likely to get into a wreck.
Find out about the typical kinds of vehicle accidents and tips for avoiding a collision.
Four Main Kinds Of Vehicle Accidents
According to insurance companies, there are four major categories of vehicle collisions. These are: head-on collisions, side-impact or T-bone collisions, rear-end collisions, and parking lot wrecks. Here is a bit of information about each:
- Head-on collisions: Also known as front-impact collisions, these occur when the front part of a vehicle hits the front end of another vehicle or something else like a telephone pole. These accidents generally make up about 57% of serious crashes.
- T-Bone collisions: This kind of accident occurs when the front of one vehicle slams into the side of another. These wrecks make up about 23% of accidents.
- Read-end collisions: These accidents happen when one car’s front end crashes into the rear end of another vehicle.
- Parking lot issues: Finally, there are various kinds of accidents that happen in parking lots. These usually involve cars bumping into each other while one is pulling out or while not paying attention to road markings.
Now that you know the most common kinds of vehicle accidents, let’s get into the common causes of accidents.
What Causes Accidents
Generally, distracted driving or aggressive driving causes accidents, but here are some specific behaviors that tend to cause wrecks:
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Using a cellphone while driving
- Going too fast
- Road rage or aggressive driving
- Other kinds of distracted driving such as eating or messing with items in your car
- Not taking weather conditions into account
- Refusing to keep up on regular car maintenance
- Getting too close to other vehicles
- Not signaling when turning or changing lines
- Forgetting to check blind spots
How Can You Avoid An Accident?
While knowing what not to do is a great start, you’ll also need to know what you should do to be a safer driver. Here are three good rules to follow:
- Always check your blind spots and look around for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Give extra time to react, especially if the weather is poor.
- Never drive distracted. This means not texting and driving and avoiding other behaviors that can lead to wrecks, such as taking your eyes off the road.
The best way to be a good driver is to act defensively. Always try to anticipate what is going on and check all around your vehicle when moving your car in a different direction or to a new one.
What Should You Do If You’re In A Wreck?
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to completely avoid accidents as you can’t account for how others on the road will act. So, if you do find yourself a victim of a car accident because of someone else, you may need assistance from a car accident lawyer. But, you can do your part to make the road safer and reduce your risk of getting in an accident.
When you are behind the wheel, do your due diligence. Also, remember to talk to other people in your life about the importance of safe driving habits.
