What Are The Causes of Car Accidents?
Our San Antonio car accident attorneys explain
Car accidents are caused by a lot of different factors. Sometimes, distracted drivers or drunk drivers are to blame. Other times, it’s someone asleep at the wheel or busy using a cellphone. No matter the cause, if you’ve been injured in a collision that wasn’t your fault, a San Antonio car accident lawyer from the Herrera Law Firm can help you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Whatever type of car accident you’re dealing with, you can count on our experienced legal team to make things right. Founding attorney Frank Herrera Jr. has been fighting for the rights of injury victims in Texas since 1983. Nowadays, he and his talented team of attorneys (including Mr. Herrera’s two sons) continue to build strong, successful legal cases.
1800 W. Commerce St.
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: (210) 224-1054
Don’t wait to take action after you’ve been injured in a car accident. A delay could affect your ability to receive the compensation you rightfully deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Don't wait to contact us if you or a loved one was injured or a loved one was killed in a car accident in Texas. To learn more about specific causes of car accidents, click on the following links:
- What Are the Top Causes of Car Accidents?
- Texting While Driving Accidents
- Cell Phone Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Speeding Accidents
- Reckless Driving Accidents
- Asleep at the Wheel Accidents
Our car accident lawyers know how to determine exactly what caused your crash and how to find the facts to hold the other driver accountable. If another driver fell asleep and rear-ended your vehicle, we know what evidence to look for and how to find it. If the other driver was speeding, we will aggressively pursue every legal avenue to hold the other driver accountable. We can even seek compensation for you if the at-fault driver is never found after a hit-and-run accident. You have options. We can help.
Some of the most tragic car accidents we handle involve drunk drivers. Despite public awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, people still continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated and wreak havoc on our roads. Texas continues to lead the country in the number of drunk driving fatalities. More recently, cell phone use while driving has been a contributing factor in many car accidents.
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Put your trust in a law firm that puts your interests first. Contact the Herrera Law Firm. Our San Antonio car accident attorneys are determined to make sure negligent drivers and insurance companies are held accountable.
Top five causes of car accidents
Distracted driving – From fiddling with a stereo or GPS to texting or talking on a cell phone, distractions come in a variety of different forms. It only takes a split second for a distracted driver to cause an accident. Drivers should abide by the law and use common sense to avoid causing accidents.
Speeding – Drive on any highway for a few miles and you’re likely to notice someone speeding – or even see someone on the side of the road being ticketed for driving too fast. Going a few miles over the speed limit might seem harmless, but the reality is that a speeding vehicle can kill. It takes longer to stop a speeding car, and the force released in a collision with a speeding vehicle is always greater than it would be for a vehicle that is moving at a legal speed.
Drunk driving – The dangers of drinking and driving have been well-documented for years, but some drivers continue to make the reckless decision to get behind the wheel after having too much alcohol. A drunk driver puts everyone in danger, because alcohol impairs the driver’s judgment and reflexes. If you are drunk, you are likely to take more risks and may even become more aggressive toward other motorists.
Reckless driving – Driving carefully might sound like common sense, but many people will think nothing of making a sudden lane change to get to an approaching exit or tailgating because they are in a hurry. Other risky behavior like drunk driving or speeding can be forms of reckless driving. Even sober drivers might make reckless decisions behind the wheel. A driver who is late for work or an appointment might drive recklessly and put everyone on the road at risk. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. If you’re running late, keep a cool head, abide by the law, and drive safely.
Poor weather conditions – Rain can create slick road surfaces, which can cause a car to spin out of control or skid while braking. Fog can also create hazardous driving conditions due to the lack of visibility. When the weather is bad, it’s important to adjust your driving. Use your headlights and slow down. You might need to pull over to a safe location if you don’t feel comfortable driving.
Texting while driving accidents
Drivers who read or send text messages are more at risk of causing accidents than drunk drivers. That might explain why cell phone-related distraction has become one of the leading causes of car accidents in recent years.
In many cases, a rear-end accident can be traced back to a driver who was texting. If you were injured in a texting-while-driving accident, our car accident lawyers can put their experience and resources to work for you. Our legal team can pore over records and reports, including the driver’s cell phone records, to prove they were texting at the time of the crash.
Injuries from texting-while-driving accidents include:
- Neck injuries/whiplash
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to a texting-while-driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Get a San Antonio car accident attorney from the Herrera Law Firm for the experienced legal help you deserve.
Car accidents caused by drivers using cell phones have become increasingly common in San Antonio and throughout Texas. As a result, they’re now frequently cited as a contributing factor in a lot of crashes. In particular, a lot of drivers cause accidents by texting while driving. Hold these drivers responsible for their actions with the help of a car accident lawyer from our San Antonio legal team. Contact a San Antonio car accident attorney from the Herrera Law Firm today to explore your legal options and protect your rights.
Despite public awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol, drunk drivers continue to cause serious injuries and fatalities on Texas roadways. Drunk drivers put everyone at risk. If you or a loved one was injured by a drunk driver, demand justice with the help of a San Antonio car accident lawyer from the Herrera Law Firm.
We aggressively pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medications
- Future medical care
- Car-repair bills
- Lost income
- Lost future income
You may even be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and other damages.
Car accidents caused by drunk drivers typically result in piles of medical bills in addition to emotional trauma, pain, and suffering. Driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of car accidents – especially those that result in serious injury or death. If you or a loved one was injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver, our car accident attorneys can explain your rights and help you figure out the best course of action to take. Our legal team carefully investigates every case we take on. That’s how we often find compensation for clients that may have been overlooked. We will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of justice.
Dram Shops and DWI Accidents
A dram shop was the name given to black market distributors of alcohol in 18th century England, where they sold it "by the dram" without paying taxes. Today, dram shop is a phrase used to describe the following:
- Selling alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person. This may apply to bars, restaurants, or concert venues, and can lead to drunk-driving accidents and other tragedies.
- Selling alcohol to an under-aged person. Young people are killed in car, truck, and motorcycle accidents at a much higher rate than those older than 21. Alcohol is often a factor.
The phrase "dram shop" may not seem common, but injuries resulting from the illegal sale of alcohol happen far too often. If alcohol was supplied illegally and played a role in the incident, you may have grounds for a dram shop case.
As most Texans know, speeding is nothing unusual on our major highways. Drivers commuting through cities like San Antonio often exceed the speed limit, but what a lot of people might not realize is just how dangerous speeding can be – it’s almost always a factor in serious car accidents.
Speeding drivers have less time to stop and avoid an accident, and when high-speed vehicles crash into other cars, the injuries are often much more severe. Injuries can include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation or loss of limb
- Traumatic brain injuries
Speeding is a factor in a lot of car accidents. When combined with other reckless behavior, such as drunk driving (DWI) or texting while driving, the risk of a car accident becomes extremely high. A high-speed accident can cause severe injuries or even loss of life, which may be grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you believe a speeding driver caused your car accident, our law firm can help. The car accident lawyers from our San Antonio legal team know how to investigate crashes caused by speeding drivers and know how to build a strong legal case. We know how to carefully analyze accident reports. We regularly work with a network of accident reconstruction experts. We know what facts to look for and what questions to ask. That’s why we consistently produce favorable outcomes for clients.
Reckless driving is among the leading causes of car accidents in San Antonio and throughout Texas. The reckless behavior of someone else can result in injuries, missed work, and other hardships on families. Injured crashed victims often face piles of medical bills, costly physical rehabilitation, as well the cost of replacing or repairing their vehicle. Examples of reckless driving accidents include collisions caused by:
- Excessive speeding or racing
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Passing on a crest of a grade or curve
- Crossing double lines to pass a car
- Driving at night without headlights
- Driving on the wrong side of the road
- Entering the highway through the exit ramp
- Driving with faulty equipment, such as bad brakes
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Tailgating
Whatever type of reckless driving accident you’re dealing with, you shouldn’t have to suffer due to someone else’s irresponsible behavior. You didn’t do anything wrong, and our car accident attorneys can help you make things right. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Drowsy drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause more car accidents than you might think. Fatigued driver accidents in Texas sometimes go unreported. A driver might deny they nodded off. That’s why victims of tired-driving car wrecks need an experienced law firm on their side.
Every year, fatal crashes are caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel, giving rise to potential wrongful death lawsuits. It’s not unusual for motorists to fall asleep at the wheel, even for a short amount of time. When an asleep at the wheel accident occurs, drivers and passengers in cars and on motorcycles may end up with severe injuries, including spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries. Often, drivers who fall asleep at the wheel cause devastating head-on collisions, some of which end up being fatal.
Just like drunk driving, falling asleep at the wheel is preventable. All drivers have the choice to pull over to the side of the road when they feel drowsy. While people who choose to drive while fatigued are not intentionally acting maliciously, their choice to get behind the wheel of a car is irresponsible. When drowsy drivers cause accidents that result in injuries, our San Antonio car accident lawyers will hold them accountable.
