Accidents happen every minute, every second. However, it’s difficult to predict the exact location of the accident. We don’t know when or how someone might be exposed to a road accident. However, it should be noted that there is a higher likelihood of car accidents occurring within 15 miles of your home. No matter where you are driving, the risk of an accident is always there. But if we know the common places where accidents happen, can we avoid them? Or can we simply be more cautious?
That’s why it’s important to know where most accidents happen. Even if it doesn’t give a specific idea, we may have a guess or at least some caution while driving in that area. In this article, we are going to cover the most likely places to have an accident and what you can do if you meet any.
Understanding Where Most Accidents Happen on the Road
The location of an accident plays an essential role in collecting evidence. This can be especially helpful when you pursue compensation and determine liability. Accidents can happen anywhere. However, the most common areas are:
Near Home
Do you know that near-fatal car accidents occur within 5 miles of your home? But why does it happen even if we are familiar with the routes? That’s the main reason! A driver feels more relaxed near his home, thinking that he knows the routes very well. This commonly happens when a driver doesn’t pay attention. It can lead him to engage in more activities, which can ultimately divert attention. A lack of focus can easily make a driver lose concentration and be involved in an accident.
Rural Areas
In many rural areas, there are no proper traffic lights, which increases the possibility of road accidents. It makes driving riskier, especially at night. Also, rural roads may have little or no traffic sometimes. Empty roads can tempt a driver to go faster. If a driver drives at high speed, they may not have sufficient time to slow down if anything ends up being in front of them. And it can significantly cause severe accidents. About 40% of accidents occurred in rural areas in 2017. That’s why it’s important to be cautious before potential dangers arise.
Intersections
Some intersections have multiple lanes, turn lanes, or unusual configurations, which can confuse drivers, especially if they’re unfamiliar with the area. As a result, many cars just go ahead and drive forward, ending up hitting another car on the side. Multiple-vehicle car accidents can commonly cause intense injuries. Since it usually involves multiple parties, this makes it difficult to file a legal claim.
High Traffic
“High traffic can cause road accidents and severe injuries,” sounds very common, right? Yet, it’s something that should not be ignored. When there are more vehicles on the road, drivers may not stop or slow down immediately, which can cause a car crash. Sometimes pedestrians might cross the road unexpectedly, which makes it difficult for the driver to be attentive, leading to a car accident.
Parking Lots
Mostly accidents happen in parking lots because many cars drive around there and sometimes drivers don’t even pay attention or follow the rules. It also makes it hard to see other cars or people, especially with all the cars parked there. Sometimes drivers also get easily distracted by their phones, which increases the risk of car accidents.
What to Do After Getting into an Accident?
If you ever get into a road or car accident, you can follow these steps to proceed further.
- Check for Injuries: Make sure you and any other passenger in your vehicle are free from injuries.
- Notify the Police: The police must be notified immediately of the occurrence of a car accident.
- Document the Scene: Capture pictures of the damage to your car to substantiate your insurance claim. In addition, note down as many details about the accident as you can remember while it is still fresh in your memory.
- Exchange Information: Get the name, phone number, address, and insurance information of other drivers involved in the accident.
- Seek Legal Representation: If you have been injured, consider hiring a car accident attorney who can help you with obtaining compensation for medical expenses and lost income.
- Contact Your Insurance Provider: Let your insurance company know about what happened so that they can start processing your claim.
Who Is Liable for Your Accident?
It’s crucial to find out who caused the accident and what insurance they have to get compensation for damages. To prove someone was at fault, lawyers need to show the following:
- The person who caused the accident had a responsibility to ensure the safety of others on the road and to obey traffic laws.
- However, they failed to fulfill this responsibility. For example, they may have been driving recklessly or disregarded a stop sign.
- As a result of their failure to uphold their duty, the accident occurred directly as a consequence of their actions.
- Due to the accident, you suffered injuries and incurred expenses such as medical bills and other related costs.
What Evidence Determines the Cause of Your Accident?
An investigation is needed to find, gather, and study evidence. If you have an accident lawyer, they’ll take care of this part. They might gather things like:
- The police report from the accident scene
- Getting your medical records
- Talking to people who saw the accident
- Keeping records of any damage caused
- Watching videos or looking at pictures of the accident from nearby cameras
How to Find an Accident Lawyer Near Me?
To discover a crash legal representative near you, you can merely begin by looking online. Search for “crash attorney near me” to locate regional choices. Furthermore, check lawful directory sites, review evaluations, and also request suggestions from individuals you depend on. Once you have a list of potential lawyers, schedule consultations to discuss your case and determine the best fit for your needs.
Wrapping Up
Anyone can encounter accidents. Knowing common accident locations can help you avoid big losses. Taking precautions is better than regretting. If you get into an accident, be sure to contact your car accident lawyer for legal advice.