A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye. Even with the safety improvements over the last few decades, driving a motor vehicle is still one of the riskiest activities Americans engage in day-to-day. Knowing the most frequent causes of car accidents can help highlight how dangerous driving a car can be, even if it’s something you do every day.
If you were hurt in a car accident, contact an experienced Detroit car accident lawyer to help you recover compensation for your losses. The impact on your life can be devastating. We will handle the legal issues while you focus on recovery. Call Davis Injury Lawyers today at (313) 462-7979.
Michigan Traffic Crash Facts
On average, a motor vehicle crash is reported every two minutes in Michigan. In 2023 alone, there nearly 300,000 motor vehicle accidents resulting in 51,097 injuries and 1,021 deaths. The reported number of crashes and deaths did decrease compared to 2022, but there were more people injured than the previous year.
Though roadways and the motor vehicle itself can certainly play a role in a car accident, driver error is the chief cause in the majority of motor vehicle crashes. According to the Michigan State Police, 78.3 percent of accidents occurred on dry roadways and 63.7 percent during clear weather conditions.
What Causes Michigan Car Accidents?
Car accident scan happen for any reason. Some of them are not in your control, but when you’re hurt by someone else’s negligence, it’s important to know why their actions put them at fault for your injuries and damages. You should know what can cause an accident and how that can affect your injury settlement after a car crash.
Driving at Excessive Speeds
Excessive speed accounted for 12% of drivers involved in crashes resulting in fatalities. Speeding can make stopping the car, dodging obstacles or other drivers, or even staying on the road challenging.
Driving While Under the Influence
Crashes involving drivers using drugs or alcohol accounted for nearly 12,000 crashes for 2023. It’s illegal to be on the road with a BAC higher than 0.08%, and drivers younger than 21 years old cannot have any alcohol in their system. Driving while using drugs or alcohol can hinder your judgment or reaction time, so a crash is more likely to happen.
Reckless or Careless Driving
Driving is a privilege many of us rely on to get from Point A to Point B. Whether that’s your drive to work or out of town for vacation, you need to have your full attention on the road. Driving while distracted or by taking your eyes off of the road can create the likelihood of a crash.
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
When you’re driving, you need to follow the rules of the road. That means you have the responsibility to yield to other drivers. Even if you think you’re in the clear, you could cause an accident or get hit if you drive when it’s another driver’s turn to go.
Aggressive Driving
This means operating a vehicle in a way that is a violation of traffic laws and likely to endanger persons or property. Reckless driving can include tailgating, disregarding traffic control signals or signs, swerving in and out of traffic, or making improper turns.
Why Does It Matter How a Crash Happens?
When you’re hurt in a car accident in Detroit, you can pursue damages for excessive injuries that go beyond your no-fault insurance. A big part of your claim will be who caused the accident — who owns the “fault” for the injuries and damages caused by the crash. These five causes of crashes are solid ways to point the blame at the other driver. Knowing how and why your injuries happened makes it easier to clear up what you’re owed.
Can I Claim a Settlement if I Share Fault?
The other important part of knowing what causes crashes is your part of the crash. Knowing how responsible you were for your own injuries can affect any potential settlements. As the plaintiff pursuing a payout for your damages, you want to find the maximum value possible. Unfortunately, the defendant, the driver you’re suing, and their insurance company are going to look for any way to avoid paying you a settlement. If you shared fault for the crash, they can argue to limit how much they pay.
For instance, if a speeding driver hit you because you failed to yield the right of way, you both share fault for the accident. The judge will need to decide who shared more fault in order to award a settlement. A Detroit car accident lawyer like Maurice Davis can help you investigate your case to ensure you know who is at fault and to ensure your case is rock-solid.
How Our Michigan Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
Being involved in a car accident is an incredibly stressful and frightening experience. If you have been hurt in an auto collision caused by another driver’s negligent or reckless actions, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries.
At Davis Injury Lawyers, we understand how overwhelming it can be to manage the financial, physical, and emotional fallout that comes with a serious accident. Our skilled car accident attorneys can take on the burden of pursuing a personal injury claim while you focus on recovery. We are here to help guide you through every step of the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Our legal team has extensive experience handling personal injury claims involving a wide variety of motor vehicle accidents. Depending on the specific facts of your case, we may be able to help you recover compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of normal life
- Loss of your relationship with your spouse
- Wrongful death of your spouse, parent, or child
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, call us today at (313) 462-7979 for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.