Auto accidents injure millions of people each year, result in wrongful death, and lead to significant financial losses. Even under seemingly ideal circumstances, there is always the risk that an auto accident can occur.
To reduce the risk of an auto accident as much as possible, each driver on the road must make a commitment to drive responsibly and avoid unnecessary and reckless actions. Sadly, many people fail to make this commitment.
Reckless driving consistently ranks as one of the leading causes of auto accidents. There are many types of reckless driving that can cause automobile accidents. Here, the experienced auto accident attorneys at Bowles & Verna go over some of the most common types of reckless driving that we see in San Jose, CA and throughout the Bay Area.
Speeding
Speeding is the most common form of reckless driving. Many people believe that they are skilled enough to maintain control of their vehicle, despite excessive speeds.
Unfortunately, many of these drivers learn the hard way that speeding makes it much more difficult to control a vehicle and leaves drivers with less time to respond to road conditions and the actions of other drivers.
Not only does speeding frequently contribute to car accidents, but it also increases the impact of an accident and is more likely to result in catastrophic injuries or death.
Abrupt Maneuvers
Abrupt car maneuvers are another common form of reckless driving. Often referred to as aggressive driving, abrupt maneuvers fail to take into account the safety of other drivers and passengers on the road.
Examples of abrupt maneuvers include sudden lane changes, making turns or lane changes without using signals to alert other drivers, weaving in and out of lanes of traffic, and slamming on the brakes suddenly. Rather than driving aggressively and making these types of sudden maneuvers, drivers should take the time to check their mirrors, look over their shoulders to check blind spots, and use turn signals to alert other drivers on the road of their intentions.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is frequently a contributing factor in car accidents. As with reckless driving, there are many different forms of distracted driving. Distracted driving describes any action that takes a driver’s attention away from the road and the task of controlling the vehicle.
Some of the most commonly practiced forms of distracted driving include texting while driving, talking on a cell phone while driving, eating or drinking while driving, and talking to other passengers in the vehicle.
The amount of time that it takes to practice any type of distracted driving could be critical in reacting to sudden obstacles in the road or the actions of other drivers.
Driving Under the Influence
Although there is significant data to show the dangers of driving under the influence, this continues to be a common form of reckless driving. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol may slow a driver’s response time, inhibit a driver’s cognitive process, and lead to careless driving decisions.
DUI is a crime that is taken seriously across the nation, with many states increasing their penalties for driving under the influence in an attempt to reduce the number of auto accidents.
Learn More
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto accident caused by reckless driving, you may be due financial compensation for your losses. To learn more about your legal rights following an automobile accident, contact the experienced attorneys at Bowles & Verna at your earliest convenience.