Virginia Beach police officers who have years of experience see new kinds of car accidents all the time. However, there are certain car accident scenarios that they see again and again. When it’s considered that the majority of these could have and should have been avoided — if the at-fault driver had acted more responsibly — the destruction and injuries caused by these crashes is particularly distressing.
Let’s take a look at a few examples of these common car accident scenarios as a reminder to all drivers that they should do everything they can to avoid them:
Distracted driving: These days, smartphones are a ubiquitous part of our society. Even though it’s unlawful to do so, countless drivers are texting while driving or surfing the internet on their smartphones. Numerous accidents happen because of this — as drivers are looking at their cellphones instead of where they’re headed on the road.
Drunk driving: As much as society has vilified the behavior, otherwise law-abiding citizens frequently get behind the wheel when they’re too drunk to drive. The delayed reaction times and loss of coordination cause thousands of car accidents and deaths across the United States every year. Drivers who find other ways to get home when they’re drunk are truly saving lives.
Speeding: When you drive faster than the speed limit you’re much more likely to get into a crash because you don’t have as much time to react to obstacles you encounter. Also, your car is driving faster and the g-forces are stronger, so your vehicle is more likely to go out of control and resulting damages and injuries are likely to be worse.
The rules of the road and driving laws are there for a reason: Following them saves lives. If you or a loved one was hurt by a negligent or unlawful driver, you may want to learn about the legal options available to you as a potential personal injury plaintiff.