Multiple car accidents occur daily in New York, especially in cities and suburbs packed with vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Crashes occur for various reasons, including due to driver negligence or recklessness, mechanical issues in cars, and adverse weather or road conditions. But what are the most frequent cases of car accidents in New York?
Distracted Driving
Today, vehicles contain various forms of technology that can distract drivers, including GPS devices or dashboard infotainment systems. Drivers may also engage in distracted driving due to other common distractions in vehicles, such as texting while driving, grooming or applying makeup, eating or drinking, or reaching around the passenger cabin for an object. Even momentary distractions can lead to car accidents. For example, in the few seconds that it takes a driver to read a text message, their vehicle can travel the length of a football field on the highway. Distractions take drivers’ eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or attention off the task of driving. For this reason, state law prohibits certain distractions while driving, such as handheld use of a cell phone.
Speeding/Aggressive Driving
Speeding can lead to car accidents by reducing the time and distance that drivers have to avoid collisions or other road hazards. Furthermore, speeding increases the severity of a crash, potentially leading to more dangerous injuries for vehicle occupants.
Aggressive or reckless driving can also put drivers and other road users at risk of car accidents. Common examples of aggressive/reckless driving behaviors include:
- Excessive speeding
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Tailgating
- Street racing
- Illegal passing
Aggressive driving can occur when road congestion in urban and suburban areas frustrates motorists, leading them to engage in road rage or make risky decisions behind the wheel.
DUI
Intoxicated driving poses a significant risk of car accidents. Alcohol or drug intoxication can negatively affect a motorist’s ability to drive safely, including altering their perception, slowing their reaction times, and impairing their judgment. Even a couple of drinks can intoxicate a person to the extent they cannot operate a motor vehicle safely. As a result, New York has strict laws against intoxicated driving, making it an offense to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs or to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more (0.04 percent or more for commercial drivers or 0.02 percent or more for drivers under 21). Drunk driving accidents tend to occur more frequently during specific periods, such as late at night or early in the morning, over weekends, and holidays like New Year’s, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.
Failure to Yield and Traffic Violations
Car accidents can occur when drivers commit various traffic infractions, such as failing to yield the right of way, failing to stop at traffic signals or stop signs, or turning or changing lanes without signaling. Traffic violations can significantly increase the risk of crashes at intersections, especially in cities where vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians cross intersections.
Weather and Road Conditions
Adverse weather conditions and road hazards can also contribute to car accidents in New York. Weather conditions, such as ice, snow, rain, or fog, can make driving more difficult, including lengthening stopping distances, increasing the risk of skids or spinouts, and reducing driver visibility. Drivers who fail to adjust their driving behaviors to adapt to adverse conditions can increase their risk of a crash.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today
When you’ve suffered injuries in a car crash in New York, get experienced legal advocacy and guidance to pursue financial recovery for your harm and loss. Contact McCann Legal, PC, today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a dedicated personal injury lawyer to discuss your options for seeking compensation after a car accident.