Why should people stop calling car wrecks “accidents”?
On Behalf of The Law Offices of Goldfine & Bowles, P.C.
February 3, 2021
Every year, thousands of people get into car collisions in the state of Illinois. Some drivers try to blame factors like bad weather, poor road conditions or vehicle malfunctions. However, studies have revealed that driver error is responsible for the vast majority of car accidents.
The AAA wants people to stop calling car crashes “accidents”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association said that people should stop referring to crashes as “auto accidents.” She pointed out that using the word “accident” implies that the crash couldn’t have been prevented. In fact, research has shown that over 90% of car crashes are caused by driver error, not external factors like bad weather or defective parts.
In 2020 alone, the state of Illinois reported over 13,000 car wrecks caused by drivers drifting out of their lanes. Speeding accounted for another 7,000 wrecks while drivers caused 1,700 accidents by refusing to yield to other vehicles on the road. Nobody wants to get into a car accident, but people make choices that increase their chances of wrecking their vehicle.
The AAA spokesperson said that people should stop calling wrecks “accidents” and call them “crashes” to better hold the drivers accountable. If people take responsibility for their behavior, the country might see fewer crashes on the road.
Who’s liable in a car crash?
Speeding, drunk driving, using a smartphone, drifting out of lanes and other driver errors can all cause accidents on the highway. If the driver at fault wasn’t carrying car insurance, that adds another issue to your case. Multiple parties might be responsible if you were hit by a commercial vehicle. In any case, a personal injury attorney may help you figure out who’s liable so that you can pursue financial compensation.