While you hopefully never have to learn the key considerations in choosing a KY accident lawyer, there’s a good chance the mistakes you or the other drivers around you make cause an accident to occur. Sometimes, these accidents can’t be avoided. They can be most of the time, though.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Kentucky will be outlined below to help you understand what makes these activities so dangerous. Hopefully, this information will help you build good habits and make your own driving much safer.
Poor Weather Handling
Many people don’t consider the fact that many types of weather affect the way you drive, including rain. When driving in rain, the first things you need to do are to turn on your windshield wipers so you can clearly see the road in front of you and turn on your headlights.
Do whatever you can to keep your windows clear of not just rain but also fog, since rain typically brings cooler air with it. The biggest things you need to do, though, are to pay attention to the road around you and drive a bit slower. Give yourself every chance possible to react to emergencies and prevent them from getting worse.
No matter what the weather is, you need to pay attention to it. If it's light perception or mild wind then you can probably drive just fine. However, if the rain or snowfall is heavy, the winds are blowing at a dangerously high speed, or the fog is incredibly thick, then it's best to stay wherever you are and safely wait the weather out.
Accidents are more likely to happen even during light rain, so just be extra cautious when you have to drive on any day that doesn’t have a clear, blue sky.
Speeding
Our lives are full of tight deadlines, so it's no wonder that some drivers have a speeding habit. However, even speeding on a wide, open road has its dangers. You could suddenly lose control of your car or fail to avoid an obstacle like a pothole that causes damage to your car. The worst part is that it’s a habit, so you may not even realize you’re doing it at first. Luckily, all habits can be broken.
The best way to combat speeding is through planning. When you have to be somewhere at a specific time, start making a plan. Understand how long it takes you to get there on both a good day and a bad one and plan as though it will be a bad one.
Doing this will give you some leeway on time, so if you’re slowed down for some reason, you still have plenty of time to get to where you’re going without picking up speed. Also, come to terms with the fact that you might be late sometimes, and that’s okay. Just don’t make being late a habit.
Reckless or Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is when you drive but don’t completely focus on that activity. Maybe you’re busy talking on the phone, texting, or eating. The cause does not fully matter, because the result is the same: large distances pass you by without you even noticing.
In this time, a lot could happen that could cause major issues, like an animal or child running into the road, or another driver could make a mistake and end up in your lane. If you were paying attention to the road, disaster could be avoided in these situations.
However, because you were busy doing something else, lives are at risk. Even if you look up in time to see one of these events, your reaction time is likely too slow to prevent tragedy partially because you only just saw the problems and partially because half of your mind is still focused on that other task.
Distracted driving is so dangerous that many states have labeled it as reckless driving. Reckless driving is when the actions of a driver are so dangerous that they are obviously putting the lives of themselves and others in danger. Many of the actions outlined here fall under this umbrella, though some also have their own, more specific punishments. Many of these bad habits are caused by one of two things: anger and being in a rush.
We’ve already discussed the latter. Anger, though, is much harder to tackle. It requires the infuriated person to both realize their own road rage and know how to calm it. Usually, at least one of these fails and dangerous activities continue until someone gets hurt or the police arrive and put a stop to it.
If you ever find yourself slipping into road rage, take a few deep breaths or count to ten before acting on it. When it's safe to do so, pull over and take the time to just unwind for a few minutes. If your rage continues to be a problem, consider seeking professional help either through therapy or anger management courses.
Driving While Impaired
Driving while impaired will result in either a DUI or a DWI, though they are basically different ways of saying the same thing. You drove while under the effects of a drug or alcohol and recklessly put many people’s lives at risk. The worst part is that it's pretty easy to avoid doing either of these things.
When you plan to go out drinking, either be ready to contact a ride of some kind through an app or designate one person who will stay sober and drive everyone else home safely. Don’t ride in the car with someone who’s going to drive while under the influence of some substance either.
It is possible to accidentally DUI thanks to any medicines you have to take. Before leaving and getting your prescription filled, ask your doctor if you can drive after taking the medicine they prescribed.
If you don’t remember or forget to ask, then check the label and monitor how you feel. If you discover that driving while using that medicine isn’t a good idea, then either stay home or find another way to get where you need to go.
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