Rear-end Collisions in Anchorage: Statistics, Causes, and Consequences
Car accidents can happen in an instant. According to statistical information regarding the time it takes for a car accident to actually take place, it takes approximately three to five seconds for a traffic collision to occur. This is the same approximate amount of time that it takes for a person to look down at their phone and receive a notification or read a short text message. Additionally, distracted driving is the leading cause of rear-end accidents in Anchorage and the United States. Rear-end collisions are also the most frequent type of auto accident to occur in the nation, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The same report read that approximately 29% of all car accidents are rear-end crashes. Rear-end accidents cause a significant amount of injuries and fatalities each and every year. In fact, approximately 1.7 million rear-end motor vehicle accidents occur each year in the United States. Out of these nearly two million collisions, approximately 1,700 people lose their lives and an additional 500,000 are injured. These numbers make up a large portion of highway crashes, fatalities, and injuries in the US.
When considering the above statistics, it is easy to see why rear-end accidents are considered such a serious matter by the legal and medical communities. However, “fender benders” are often referred to as rear-end accidents, which makes it easier for insurance companies to attempt to downplay these kinds of crashes.
What Usually Causes a Rear-End Crash?
According to information provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, a whopping 87% of rear-end crashes are caused by a distracted driver. These percentages show that distracted driving is the leading cause of these types of collisions by far. Drivers often do not notice the car in front of them in time to slow to a stop a safe distance from them. Driver distractions can include cell phone use such as texting and driving, eating while driving, fiddling with the radio, heat or air conditioning, or GPS. It can also include becoming distracted by other people in your car.
Some other prevalent reasons rear-end collisions happen are as follows:
Inclement weather: Standing water, snow, heavy rain, icy roads, hail, and other serious weather conditions can all have a detrimental effect on a person’s ability to see what is in front of them on the road.
Overly aggressive driving: Overly aggressive driving can include following someone too closely or tailgating, driving at unsafe speeds, cutting someone off, or brake checking someone.
Overly tired driving: Fatigued driving is a leading cause of all different types of car accidents in the United States. Driving while you are overly tired can cause slower reaction times and poor judgment.
Intoxicated driving: This goes without saying, but driving drunk or high can greatly affect your ability to safely and properly operate a motor vehicle.
How Can I Prevent Causing a Rear-End Collision?
Every one of the above-mentioned factors can and do play into rear-end accidents in Anchorage. It is important to take note of each of these conditions so that you do not fall victim to any of them in the future. Although it is impossible to predict how other people around you are going to drive and make decisions while doing so, you can prevent yourself from driving fatigued, intoxicated, or aggressively–as well as from paying more attention to something else than the road and your surroundings while driving or driving during dangerous weather. Here are some steps to follow to ensure that you do not cause a rear-end crash:
Abide by all of the rules of the road, no matter what
Be careful when forced to drive in inclement weather
Do not drive while you’re overtired or intoxicated
Minimize as many distractions as possible
Do not engage in overly aggressive driving tactics
If you or someone you love has been injured in a rear-end collision, contact the Law Office of Jason Skala for a free case evaluation and consultation. Jason Skala, an experienced personal injury lawyer in Anchorage, has been successfully litigating car accident cases in Anchorage and the surrounding cities for over a decade. He will tailor his approach to meet your needs and ensure that you walk away with the maximum compensation amount available for your claim. No one should ever have to pay for being injured by another person’s negligence, which is why Jason Skala works diligently to provide injured car accident victims in Anchorage with full and fair financial compensation for their injuries and incurred losses. Contact the Law Office of Jason Skala today in order to speak with a reputable Anchorage car accident attorney concerning your car accident claim today. You pay nothing unless awarded compensation!