In the state of New York, driving on the highway can sometimes lead to a highway accident. However, being aware of some of the common causes that contribute to highway accidents can help one avoid them. You may be able to act evasively if you notice any of these situations.

In the following article, we will give you an overview of the top causes of New York highway accidents.

If you were injured in an accident, our team of NY car accident lawyers can assist you with your injury claim. Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law is a mainstay in the Tri-State for car accidents and personal injury. Call one of the most trusted lawyers today for help.

Top Causes of An NY Highway Accident

Accidents on the highway are common. Unfortunately, they can result in serious injuries. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that each year, approximately 6 million car accidents lead to over 2.7 million injuries and over 36,000 fatalities.

Most highway accidents are caused by other drivers, especially their careless driving, while some are caused by circumstances that are out of your control. When there is inclement weather, there is generally an increase in highway accidents.

The most common reasons for highway accidents include:

Speeding

Even if you are not breaking the speed limit, you may still be speeding if you drive too quickly for the road conditions. It is the responsibility of drivers to reduce their speed when adverse weather conditions arise in order to ensure their safety.

Driving too fast in any scenario increases the risk of losing control of your vehicle and crashing into another vehicle or a pedestrian. It could also result in a single-car accident.

An uneventful drive or a crash can be caused by not having enough time to halt or maneuver around an obstacle.

Distracted Driving

Any activity that diverts a driver's attention from the road is considered distracted driving. This could be texting or taking a phone call, eating your breakfast, or applying makeup. The NHTSA says texting and driving makes up 18% of accidents caused by distracted driving.

The use of smartphones and the rise in integrated electronics in cars and trucks have made distracted driving that much more common. These types of distracted driving can occur:

• Attention diverted from driving. Even daydreaming while operating a motor vehicle might cause a driver's attention to wander and result in an accident on an NY highway. For instance, people may miss signs alerting them to impending road work while not keeping their mind from wandering to something other than driving.
• Letting go of the steering wheel. Reaching for a fallen object, adjusting the radio, or trying to reach into the back seat are common causes of accidents where you may release the steering wheel. Because of how far the car can go when a driver notices an emergency and tries to regain control of the wheel, it is especially risky to take one's hands off the wheel.
• Turning your head from the road. Whenever we take our eyes off the road ahead, our hands naturally go toward that direction. The vehicle may swerve into another traffic lane or off the road. Even glancing at a passenger in the car diverts the driver's attention from the road, which raises the possibility of an accident.

Aggressive Driving

The term "aggressive driving" refers to dangerous driving behavior such as speeding, tailgating or weaving through traffic. While this behavior is against the law, it can also result in highway accidents.

Aggressive driving is not illegal in New York, but if you drive aggressively and it results in road rage, you can face a criminal offense. When a driver fights with another driver or uses their car as a weapon, it's considered road rage.

Aggressive driving and road rage are two of the most common reasons for highway accidents.

Driving Under The Influence

Alcohol and other drug use can impact a driver's reaction time and impairs their driving ability.

Numerous substances, such as alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and illicit narcotics, can make driving unsafe. Drunk or drugged drivers have the potential to cause devastating accidents, especially on the highway.

Remember that even in cases where a blood-alcohol level is below the legal limit or when the medicines were legally prescribed but came with a warning not to drive, the driver could still be deemed negligent in a civil action.

Injured in a Highway Accident? Brandon J. Broderick Can Help

Your focus should be on recovering, not dealing with a legal claim if you were hurt in an NY highway accident.

Our accident lawyers in New York will assist you in getting compensation for your injuries.  At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we value honest communication with our clients as well as kind treatment. We will negotiate for the compensation you are entitled to.

Call us today to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys for free.