What Causes Car Wrecks in Kentucky?
The Whaley Law Firm Provides Information about Contributing Factors in Accidents
In Louisville and throughout Kentucky, car accidents are unique, but many crashes share common contributing factors, whether it's a rear-ender on Poplar Level Road or a high-speed, highway accident on the Gene Snyder Freeway. Many accidents involve driver negligence. Victims need to prove the other driver was at fault, which is why car accident claims can become complex. The insurance company may try to keep payments to a minimum or even deny a claim outright.
The Whaley Law Firm is familiar with the leading causes of car accidents. We have a deep understanding of how and why car accidents occur in Kentucky. We fight aggressively on behalf of clients to determine liability and hold the negligent individual accountable.
Some causes of car accidents are more common than others. Perhaps the other driver involved in your accident was texting while driving. He may have been speeding. If you've been injured or a loved one was injured as a result of the following factors, contact an experienced attorney at our firm today. Call 866-703-7575 for a free case consultation.
Click on the following to find out more about what are the top 5 causes of car accidents in Kentucky:
- Various Driver Distractions
- Texting or Talking on Cell Phones
- Speeding
- Tired or Asleep at the Wheel Drivers
- Intoxicated or Drug or Alcohol Impaired Driving (Drunk Driving)
The term "distracted driving" can cover a wide range. While the popularity of cell phones - and amount of cell-phone related car accidents - have made roads more dangerous for drivers in Louisville and throughout Kentucky, many other distractions can cause drivers to momentarily shift their focus away from the road, potentially leading to serious or fatal accident on state roadways.
At the Whaley Law Firm, our experienced legal team is familiar with the most common causes of distracted driving accidents in Kentucky. Electronic devices, from phones to GPS systems and radios, remain a top cause of driver distraction. When using such devices, drivers may take their eyes off the road to look at a small screen or their hands off the wheel to manipulate a device, potentially taking their attention away from the road for seconds at a time.
In addition, drivers accustomed to an on-the-go lifestyle may choose to eat their breakfast, drink coffee or other beverages and engage in personal grooming while behind the wheel, potentially leading to an accident on Kentucky roadways. Driver distraction can also be attributable to a passenger or passengers in a vehicle who cause the driver to take his or attention away from the road.
Proving such accidents were caused by a distracted driver can be difficult. The driver who caused your accident may claim she wasn't distracted. Insurance companies may try to shift the blame to a driver who was not at fault. Louisville distracted driving accident lawyer Aaron Whaley can collect evidence to support your claim. We can examine police reports and medical documents. That way, we can pursue compensation that covers the true cost of your injuries while holding reckless drivers accountable for their behavior.
Texting or Talking on Cell Phones
Cell phones have become an integral part of modern culture. People of all ages use such devices to talk, text, access email and social media sites, play games and take photos. But as cell phones and smart phones have exploded in popularity - and technological advances allow users a degree of connectivity never seen before - car accidents caused by drivers who pay more attention to their cell phones than the road ahead have skyrocketed in recent years.
The dangers of talking or texting while behind the wheel are well-documented. Drivers take their attention away from their road for an average of five seconds per text, or roughly the length of a football field at highway speeds.
The Whaley Law Firm understands that cell phone-related accidents are among the most preventable, type of Kentucky car accident. You may have been rear-ended by a texting driver. A driver preoccupied with a social media site or sending an email might fail to stop at a red light or stop sign as you lawfully pass through an intersection, resulting in a high-speed collision and potentially fatal injuries.
Determining fault in a texting accident can be difficult without an experienced attorney on your side. That's because the driver who caused your accident may deny wrongdoing. His insurance company may try to claim you did something wrong to cause the accident. We can help. Our firm can obtain cell phone records and other important information to determine whether a distracted driver was using her cell phone the moments prior to your accident.
Speeding is common on Louisville roads and highways. Yet while it may be a common sight to see vehicles weaving in and out of traffic on I-64 or passing through a yellow light at a city intersection, an accident involving a speeding driver can turn life upside down in a matter of seconds. The Whaley Law Firm understands that high-speed collisions are rarely minor. That's why we fight so hard to obtain the benefits that accident and wrongful death victims deserve.
Drivers who disobey posted speed limits for any reason - from being in a rush to arrive to their destination to driving under the influence of alcohol - pose an immediate threat to all other drivers sharing the road. Speeding drivers often have more difficulty controlling or stopping their vehicle. A speeding driver may have more difficulty reacting to road obstacles or traffic signals. As a result, accidents involving speeding drivers can be especially catastrophic.
The cause of your accident may seem clear-cut after a high-speed collision. A driver who disobeyed the speed limit hit you. There may be no skid marks at a stop sign or red light. But don't assume your claim will be easy. Insurance companies may try to downplay your injuries or even say you did something wrong. A speeding driver may even deny breaking the law.
The Whaley Law Firm understands what it takes to prove fault after a Kentucky speeding accident. Louisville speeding accident attorney Aaron Whaley can collect evidence from the accident scene and pore over medical and police records. We can interview witnesses. If necessary, we can employ an accident reconstruction team to uncover the true cause of your accident. We leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice and the compensation you deserve after an accident.
Tired or Asleep at the Wheel Drivers
"Fatigued driving" is a term typically associated with commercial vehicle drivers who spend long hours behind the wheel of their vehicles each week. But in Louisville and throughout Kentucky, it is possible for any driver who is too tired to lack proper judgment or fall asleep at the wheel, causing a catastrophic and potentially fatal rear-end collision, head-on crash or intersection accident in a moment's notice.
What makes driving while tired so dangerous on state roads and highways? Fatigued driving can cause cognitive impairment and delayed reaction times not unlike those exhibited by drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs. A tired driver may veer in and out of traffic lanes on I-64 or I-65. Tired drivers may fail to yield, stop at a red light or stop at a busy crosswalk or intersection. Yet despite these risks, many motorists don't think twice before getting behind the wheel when too tired to drive.
Motorists who drive while fatigued make a conscious choice to put others in danger. The Whaley Law Firm knows how to protect the rights of accident victims injured or whose loved ones have been injured or killed by a fatigued driver. We can collect evidence and examine police records. We can interview witnesses. We'll play "hardball" with insurance companies who may try to downplay your injuries.
Intoxicated or Drug or Alcohol Impaired Driving (Drunk Driving)
How many car accidents are caused by drunk driving? Nationwide, alcohol is a contributing factor in about 30 percent of all fatal car accidents. In Kentucky, alcohol-related crashes kill more than 100 people per year. Alcohol consumption affects the way our brain functions, which can lead to impaired judgment and a reduced ability to react appropriately. On the road, impairment can be deadly.
The legal limit for drivers over age 21 is 0.08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), but it's important to note that impairment can occur even below that level. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, a person's ability to drive is impaired at 0.04 or 0.05 BAC. At low levels of intoxication, a person may feel more competent to drive than before they started drinking. However, this feeling is a false sense of security and driving under any level of impairment can lead to serious consequences.
Drunk driving is an irresponsible and dangerous choice that can have devastating consequences for innocent people on the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident, the Whaley Law Firm is here to help. Our experienced legal team is dedicated to fighting for the rights of victims and their families, and we have a proven track record of securing substantial compensation for our clients. If you were hit by a drunk driver, contact us for a free case consultation.