When people think about car accidents, they often assume that a driver made an egregious error for the first time and caused the wreck. This person did something far outside of the norm, something that was reckless or negligent, and the crash is their fault.
While it may be true that what they did was reckless or negligent, it’s probably not the first time that they’ve done it. This isn’t a one-time event. Many accidents are caused because people simply have bad habits. Up until that moment, they’ve probably done this and gotten away with it, but that habit is eventually going to catch up with them.
That morning cup of coffee
For instance, drinking coffee in the car is a distraction. It could cause an accident because the driver has to take one hand off of the wheel and likely takes their eyes off of the road as they take a sip. A spill could also cause a crash.
However, when people who do not brew their coffee at home were asked about their drinking habits, it was found that 48% of them would get their coffee at a drive-thru. Many of these people are morning commuters, and they then drink the coffee on the way into the office. This could be a daily habit that they have enjoyed for years before it finally causes a crash.
Texting and driving
Another common habit that people have is to send or read text messages in the car. It can also go beyond that, as they may just check their notifications or see what happened on social media. Either way, they’re in the habit of looking at the phone when they should be looking at the road, and that can cause an accident.
In some cases, this habit becomes nearly an addiction. If somebody hears that a new notification came in, even if they’re actively driving in heavy traffic, they may instinctively reach for the phone. Again, they have probably done this many times without crashing, but all it takes is one time for things to go drastically wrong.
Have you suffered injuries?
If you have been injured in a crash caused by a driver who made one of these mistakes, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other costs.
