The number one reason why car accidents happen is driver distraction – drivers take their attention off of the road, and then they end up making mistakes that lead to minor fender benders, serious pile-ups, and even potentially fatal high-speed collisions. Typical reasons why driver distraction occurs include: using a mobile phone while driving, applying makeup (or styling the hair) while driving, or eating and drinking while driving. Having a verbal argument with a passenger can also cause driver distraction that leads to problems out on the roadways. Sometimes, children who are acting out in a car seat or back seat may also distract parents or guardians at crucial moments, triggering a car accident that may cause injury, disability, or death. The legal problems caused by a car accident can cast a pall over a driver’s life for a very long time. Any person who is seeking techniques for preventing driver distraction should consider making a list of things to avoid, and then training his or herself to stay away from car accident “triggers”. For example, using a mobile text messaging device is so easy to avoid, but many people still spend plenty of time punching in characters whenever they are behind the wheel. To reinforce a decision not to text on the road, watch YouTube videos about the perils of driving while texting, or research accident statistics related to texting – these resources will be powerful deterrents for most people. To avoid putting on makeup or grooming yourself while driving your car, get organized – get it together and give yourself enough time to look good before you get into your car. Learn to ignore squabbling children until you can pull over and set matters straight. On the road, your priority should be safety, and the safety of your passengers and fellow drivers – everything else comes second. Another common cause of car accidents is driving too fast – every day, people die (or suffer) because someone decided to speed and then lost control of his or her vehicle. Car accidents happen in a split second, but their effects can last for a lifetime. If you’re prone to speeding, learn to follow the speed limits – to motivate yourself, imagine how you would feel if you caused a car accident that harmed or killed another person. Speeding is one of the most common reasons why people die on the road, but speeding is so preventable. When you decide to follow the speed limit, you are fulfilling your responsibilities as a driver, a human being, and a community member. You are protecting others and doing your part. Speeding kills – so slow down and arrive alive. A third factor that often contributes to car accidents is driving while intoxicated – drunk driving is a potentially deadly decision that may haunt a person for the rest of his or her life. Once a person has had a few drinks, his or her reflexes, reaction times, and spatial abilities plummet. While it may be tempting to drive after having “just a few drinks”, it can be a choice that leads to arrest, conviction, and a criminal record. A DUI arrest stains the reputation, because drunk driving often kills innocent people…to others, the act of choosing to drive after drinking alcohol sends a message of selfishness and recklessness. For those who do kill others through their own drunk driving, the guilt and shame of taking another person’s life can be truly debilitating…and the sense of grief and self-loathing that is experienced after an accident can ruin a drunk driver’s life for a very long time. The causes of car accidents may also include aggressive driving – after all, cutting people off can lead to road rage, accidents, and altercations… mechanical failure may also play a role in some car crashes. Keeping your vehicle well-maintained at all times will help to protect you, and so will driving defensively – not offensively. Bad weather is also proven to play a role in car accidents, so be very careful on rainy or icy roads, and be wary of driving in high winds and lightning storms. Now that you know the most common reasons why car accidents happen, you can learn to break bad habits and to prevent injuries, fatalities, and legal problems related to getting behind the wheel. Continue – Road Accident Claims