If you have ever lost a friend or family member to a car crash, you know how devastating it can be. Perhaps you have been in an accident yourself. Maybe, that time, you were lucky and were not injured. Every day in America, lives are lost and people are injured due to another driver not taking responsibility when getting behind the wheel of their car.
Negligent Driving in Rhode Island
Providence auto crash lawyers
Over 37,000 people die each year because of car accidents. Over 1,600 of these fatalities are children under the age of 15. The National Safety Council estimates that 25% of auto accidents are caused by talking on cell phones or texting while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 40% of vehicle fatalities were caused by alcohol consumption.
An intoxicated driver in Rhode Island, or a driver who is texting, is more likely to miss a traffic signal, lose control of their vehicle, or be unable to stop in time to avoid a collision.
A few other factors that can contribute to negligent driving are driving while fatigued, speeding and aggressive driving. Driving while fatigued can mimic the same symptoms of intoxicated driving such as falling asleep, impeded stop time and slowed reaction time. Speeding reduces a person’s ability to stop in time and maintain control of their vehicle. Aggressive driving can lead to accidents because of switching lanes, tailgating, and blocking a motorist’s ability to move.
Other things that can contribute to crashes are weather, condition of roads and highways and faulty traffic signals, or an animal running out into the road. These can’t be controlled by the driver, but the driver can control what they do when they get behind the wheel.
You Have Recourse
You can consult a RI personal injury attorney to help you decide what steps you need to take to find recourse for damages, injuries, medical bills, and funeral expenses. While financial compensation can never bring back a loved one or give you back the life you once knew, it can help ease the worry and strain over financial difficulties resulting from a car crash.
Negligent driving can take various forms, each posing risks on the road. Here are some types:
- Distracted Driving: This includes activities like texting, talking on the phone, or any other action that diverts attention from driving.
- Speeding: Driving over the speed limit or too fast for road conditions is a common form of negligence.
- Drunk Driving: Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only illegal but also highly negligent.
- Reckless Driving: Aggressive and careless driving, such as weaving in and out of traffic or ignoring traffic signs, falls into this category.
- Fatigued Driving: Driving while excessively tired or drowsy can impair reaction times and decision-making.
- Failure to Obey Traffic Signals: Disregarding traffic signals, stop signs, and other rules of the road is a negligent behavior that can lead to accidents.
- Tailgating: Following too closely behind another vehicle can lead to rear-end collisions and is considered negligent.
- Failure to Signal: Not using turn signals or indicators can create confusion and increase the risk of accidents.
- Aggressive Driving: This includes behaviors like road rage, aggressive tailgating, and aggressive lane changes.
- Failure to Yield: Neglecting to give the right of way when required can lead to accidents and is considered negligent.
Remember, responsible driving is crucial for road safety. If you’re on the road, it’s best to prioritize safety over anything else.
