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Platte County, MO Auto Accident Lawyer Lists the Top Causes of Missouri Car Accidents: Why Is Someone Always at Fault?

Is it possible to have an Missouri car accident where no one is at fault? It is possible, but not likely. The Platte County, MO auto accident lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys explain:

More than 90 percent of car accidents can be attributed to five causes. These are:

1. Speeding
2. Distracted Driving
3. Drunk Driving
4. Aggressive Driving
5. Driver Fatigue

What do all these causes have in common? They are driver behaviors and they are preventable.

Speeding

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics indicate that speeding is a factor in almost one-third of car crashes. Speeding affects a driver's ability to react to a potential dangers in the road and it increases the distance necessary to stop a vehicle. This makes a car crash more likely to occur. And, when a high speed car crash occurs, there is a greater chance of serious injury. Speeding dramatically increases the energy released in a car crash; for example, a speed increase from 40 m.p.h. to 60 m.p.h causes the energy released in a car crash to double.

Distracted Driving

In 2009, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared distracted driving an epidemic. Driver distraction is a factor in at least one-quarter of U.S. traffic accidents and causes approximately 6,000 deaths a year. The leading distraction for American drivers is wireless devices. Studies show that these distractions can slow a driver's reaction time just as much as alcohol impairment does. Secretary LaHood is leading national efforts to ban distractions such as text messaging and handheld cell phone while driving.

Drunk Driving

Missouri drivers are considered to be under the influence of alcohol if they have a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater. Drivers who are impaired by alcohol have slowed reaction times, impaired judgment and are more likely to engage in risky behavior such as speeding and racing. In 2009, 9,813 or 32% of all fatal crashes involved a driver under the influence of alcohol.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving refers to driving behaviors such as driving too fast for road conditions, cutting in and out of traffic, passing on the right, failing to yield, tailgating, failure to regard right-of-way signs and traffic signals, and threatening other drivers. These behaviors often occur when traffic is bad and drivers are frustrated, but impatient drivers who behave recklessly can cause serious car accidents. A AAA study attributed 56 percent of fatal accidents to aggressive driving.

Driver Fatigue

In one study, more than one-third of drivers admitted to falling asleep while driving. Dozing behind the wheel contributes to nearly 100,000 accidents every year in the U.S. each year. These accidents cause about 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries. Most of these accidents occur between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.

The Platte County, MO auto accident lawyer at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys see victims of speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, aggressive driving and drowsy driving every day. Our clients are people just like you whose lives were changed by accidents that could have been avoided. We believe drivers should be responsible for their actions and we are committed to getting our clients the compensation and accountability they deserve. Contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616 to schedule a free consultation with a Platte County, MO auto accident lawyer.

To learn more about protecting your Missouri accident claim, download our free book: "10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim".

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Auto & Vehicle Accidents

• Why are research and statistics that look at gender differences among drivers important? If I am hurt in an Independence, MO car accident, do the research and statistics matter?

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