February 14, 2022

Where Do Most Car Accidents Happen?

Car accidents are a virtual certainty for anyone who drives for several decades. Most drivers will be in at least one accident and likely more than that throughout their driving years.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) says there were more than 6.76 million vehicle accidents reported to police across the United States in 2019.

Among those accidents, 33,244 resulted in fatalities and another two million in injuries. NHTSA says approximately five million accidents caused only property damage.

The accident totals in 2019 were higher than in all but one year over the past decade. Only 2016 posted more accidents with more than 6.82 million reported to the police.

Most Accidents Happen Near the Home

You do not have to travel far to get into a car accident. And if you are in an accident, odds are you did not travel far from home.

NHTSA says 77 percent of all vehicular accidents happen within 15 miles of the driver’s home. More than 52 percent happen within five miles of the home. In addition, the majority of fatal accidents happen within 25 miles of home.

The reason why accidents happen near the home is obvious. That is where most people do most of their driving. Whether it is to and from work or running errands, relatively few car trips require driving more than 25 miles from most people’s homes.

Rush Hour, Dusk, and Dawn See Many Accidents

The busier the roads, the greater the potential for an accident occurring. That is why rush hour and other peak traffic times see spikes in road-going accidents.

The evening rush hour during the wintertime is especially bad with the combination of a setting sun and more people getting out of work at about the same time. However, the morning commute to work also is more prone to accidents, with busier roads and many drivers still waking up and getting themselves together for the day.

Intersections Are Especially Dangerous

Aside from distance to your home, the most significant factor in traffic accidents is an intersection. NHTSA says that intersections account for about 15 percent of all car accidents. Driver error generally leads to accidents while negotiating intersections.

Making a left-hand turn across one or more lanes of traffic is the most dangerous traffic maneuver that you can do. When you turn left, you are crossing at least one lane of oncoming traffic. The more lanes that you cross, the more dangerous the turn. And the heavier the traffic, the greater the potential to miss an oncoming car, pedestrian, or another object and cause an accident.

Even if you are turning right, there is a strong potential to miss a vehicle, pedestrian, or object in your blind spot. You also might cut a corner too closely and cause an accident.

Rear-End Collisions Often Occur at Intersections

Rear-end collisions are another common occurrence at intersections. You could be stopped while waiting for a light to change or traffic to clear. But another driver who is not paying attention, traveling too fast for conditions, or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol could misjudge speed and distance and rear-end your stopped vehicle.

A rear-end collision can be especially dangerous because the driver and passengers in the car that is hit often do not see the other vehicle coming. The faster the offending vehicle is traveling, the greater the potential for serious injuries to occur.

Whiplash is a common result of rear-end collisions. So are broken bones and internal injuries. Fatalities could happen in the worst cases.

Whiplash happens when the neck and spine flex in a whip-like manner when hit from behind or the side. The action is similar to what occurs when you crack a whip. Whiplash often causes soft tissue injuries and extreme pain for a short time. Some cases can last several weeks or longer.

Roundabouts Are Improving Intersection Safety

Many local communities are eliminating many dangers associated with intersections by installing roundabouts or traffic circles.

Everyone makes a right-hand turn onto a roundabout and turns right again to exit one and head down the road. Drivers must yield the right of way to other vehicles that already are in the roundabout prior to entering one.

The turn onto a roundabout and merging with its traffic are the most difficult part and pose the greatest risk of an accident. When traffic is relatively slow and the roundabout is not busy, there is very little chance of a collision occurring.

Other Common Locations for Car Accidents

Intersections clearly pose high risks for drivers. So do several other commonly encountered driving situations, including parking.

A parking lot is a place where vehicles commonly collide but at relatively low speeds. Many parking lot accidents happen because one driver does not yield the right of way and backs into another vehicle. Parking lot accidents also could injure one or more pedestrians.

Stop signs are another common danger that many people take for granted as being simple to navigate. However, stop signs account for a good portion of car accidents. That is because some drivers do not pay close attention to the signs or other traffic.

If you misjudge the speed of an oncoming vehicle, an accident could occur if you pull out at the wrong time. You also might run into another motorist’s rear end or get rear-ended by a driver who is not paying close attention.

Most accidents happen near the home and at common locations, such as intersections, stop signs, and parking lots, for generally the same reason. That reason is a lack of attention paid by one or more drivers.

When negligence causes an injurious car accident, you have the right to hold the at-fault motorists accountable. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you to build a strong case and hold an at-fault motorist liable for damages.

 

Norristown Car Accident Lawyers at Anthony C. Gagliano III, P.C., Build Strong Cases for Clients Injured in Car Accidents

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, reach out to the Norristown car accident lawyers at Anthony C. Gagliano III, P.C. Our experienced legal team will investigate the cause of the accident and will fight to obtain the compensation for which you are entitled. Call us at 267-861-7100 or visit our website to set up a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia and King of Prussia,, Pennsylvania, we serve clients in Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Chester County, and Norristown.