When you get behind the wheel, your main concern is to get to your destination safely and securely. In order to do this, you must stay attentive to the road, observe traffic signs and stop lights, and pay attention to the vehicles around you. Unfortunately, you are not always able to rely on other drivers to do the same. One of the largest causes of automobile accidents in the U.S. is driver error – unintentional mistakes that are made due to distraction, poor driving, and negligence.
Types of Driver Error
There are many different ways someone can make mistakes behind the wheel that end in traumatic accidents. Some of the most common types of driver error include:
Changing lanes without signaling
Turning without signaling
Failing to yield when appropriate
Failing to use headlights at night
Becoming distracted
Accidentally running stop signs and red lights
Sometimes these mistakes can be made without consequences. When there are few people on the road or traffic is traveling slowly, a driver may be able to make a significant error without causing a collision. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. With so many other vehicles on the road, often traveling at high speeds, a quick mistake can turn into a crash that causes severe injuries to everyone in the vicinity.
Injuries Sustained in Car Crashes
A significant number of car accidents each year are caused by some sort of driver error. Car accidents take a heavy toll on their victims, costing them thousands of dollars in medical bills, damage to their vehicle, and potentially causing life-long injuries or problems. Severe car accidents can cause injuries that include:
Severe trauma to the head and spinal cord
Broken or shattered limbs
Cracked ribs
Fractures
Severe Lacerations
Lasting psychological effects, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Depending on the severity of the accident, victims may be able to recover from most of their injuries through medical treatment and rehabilitation. However, some car accidents are capable of leaving individuals with life-altering injuries that effect their career, ambitions, and daily activities.
If you were injured in a car accident that may have been the result of driver error on the part of another driver, you may wish to consult with a car accident lawyer about the possibility of obtaining compensation for your losses, including medical costs, lost wages, and physical or emotional distress.