No one expects a car accident, otherwise, the accident would be avoided. Car accidents can happen because of bad weather, poor road conditions, unexpected actions by other vehicles or pedestrians, or driver errors. Everyone is human and makes mistakes from time to time. This is why human errors remain a contributing factor for car accidents. Newer technology in modern cars can now compensate for a fair amount of human error. However, in the event of an accident caused by a negligent driver, be sure to contact an experienced Tennessee car accident lawyer about compensation.
Human Errors Related to Car Accidents
Common human errors that lead to car accidents are recognition errors, decision errors, and falling asleep at the wheel. Recognition errors made up the highest percentage of causes about 41% of the time. Recognition errors make up distractions of perception that can lead drivers to miss something on the road like another vehicle. This includes mistakes
regarding surveillance, inattention, and distractions. Internal distractions are ones that happen in the mind and external distractions involve outside influences like texting.
Decision errors made up the next highest cause at around 34%. No one is always perfect at making accurate judgments of their surroundings and what other vehicles are doing on the road. Misjudgments of how fast other cars are going, how much of a gap there is between cars, and misinterpreting what another car is about to do are common examples. Checking the blind spot inaccurately can also lead to mistakes.
Sleep-related accidents make up about 7% of causes. There are also certain medical conditions like heart attacks, strokes, and seizures that can cause accidents. When these things happen, the driver tends to lose all voluntary control of the vehicle.
What Steps Can I Take to Avoid an Accident?
After hearing all the causes of car accidents, you may be wondering what it takes to avoid them. The truth is that some human errors are almost unavoidable, like heart attacks or trying to drive while dealing with distractions. However, many of these errors can be avoided with keener awareness and avoidance of certain behaviors.
Distractions are one of the easier fixes. Avoid them at all costs. This means pull over to text or make a phone call unless you have a hands-free phone system set up. Do not drink over the legal limit of 0.08% BAC and be cautious about driving at night if you are sleep deprived. Take a nap before heading out or find a way to postpone the trip. If you must go, have someone else drive or switch turns when you feel drowsy.
