Where Do Most Vehicle Collisions Happen?
Where do most vehicle collisions happen? Unfortunately, auto accidents are unpredictable. There’s no exact science to preventing or predicting a car wreck. However, there are patterns to examine as to where and when they occur.
When you understand these patterns, you have a chance to reduce the risk of an accident. Below, we want to cover a few common car accident scenarios. Moreover, we share what to do in order to avoid becoming a statistic.
Neighborhood Roads
It may surprise you, but many collisions happen close to home. According to a 2004 study from Progressive Insurance, over half of all accidents occurred within five miles of someone’s home. Generally speaking, it’s more likely that you crash in your own neighborhood than in any other location.
Why is this, though? People believe this happens because our brains tend to turn on autopilot as we travel familiar roads and routes. Have you ever arrived at your destination only to realize you were in a sort of trance the whole time?
Then, you know this phenomenon all too well. When people drive in familiar areas, they typically rely on their muscle memory more than their active driving skills. Unfortunately, this dulls a driver’s ability to react to an unexpected occurrence.
As such, there are two important things to remember whenever you get behind the wheel.
- Buckle up.
- Stay alert.
When you keep your mind active, you are a safer, better driver. This helps you avoid incidents in places where most collisions happen.
Parking Lot Collisions
Where do most collisions happen at low speeds? Typically, it’s a parking lot.
When you put a lot of vehicles with stressed-out drivers into a tight area, it’s a hotbed for collisions. This is especially true when drivers have to vie for limited parking spaces.
Arguably, parking lots are where the majority of low-speed collisions happen. Common parking lot incidents include the following.
- Vehicles backing up only to get clipped by a passing car
- Drivers backing up into each other
- Vehicles that sideswipe others as they park
Luckily, these accidents rarely result in severe injuries. However, the damage is often expensive to repair.
On Your Daily Commute
In a large, sprawling city like Houston, TX, commuters spend hours every day sitting in traffic. Oftentimes, this causes people to multitask behind the wheel. For instance, here are a few of the distractions people tend towards.
- Messing with the radio or the music on their phone
- Eating food
- Shaving
- Brushing their teeth
- Putting on makeup
Moreover, it’s important to consider how long some of these commutes are. Long daily commutes have the potential to drain people physically and mentally. Whether they have to get up early, have long hours, etc, they take their toll.
When you factor in all these variables, it’s easy to see why so many collisions occur in rush hour.
Intersections
Where do most collisions happen when they involve a fatality? Roughly 15% of fatal car wrecks occur at intersections. The other 85% tend to occur on the open road.
However, many non-fatal accidents tend to occur at intersections. Often, they result from a violation of traffic laws, distracted driving, speeding, and improper left turns.
Generally, these result in a t-bone collision. Unfortunately, this type of accident tends to cause more serious injuries. They range from whiplash and strained shoulders to hearing damage and head trauma.
Rural Roads
Typically, when people ask “where do most car accidents happen,” they expect to hear about urban areas. However, the reality is that many fatal accidents occur on two-lane roads in rural areas.
In fact, data indicates that about 57% of fatal collisions take place on rural roads. Another devastating statistic is that many of these don’t occur on curves. In reality, they tend to happen on straight roads, especially as people drive at night.
How Do I Avoid Collisions in These Areas?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely avoid 100% of accidents. However, you can take action to lower your risk of a collision.
Pay Attention to Your Habits
How would you rate your driving habits? Be honest. Do you ever space out on familiar roads? As mentioned earlier, it’s entirely too common a phenomenon.
First, it’s important to stay aware of your own habits. Every time you sit behind the wheel, be alert and be cautious. Moreover, avoid any unnecessary risks.
Second, if you hear your phone ding or buzz, ignore it until you stop. Additionally, it’s a good idea to listen to GPS directions instead of checking the map on your phone.
It takes time to change habits. However, reducing your risk of an accident is worth the effort.
Maintain Your Vehicle
While good habits reduce your risk of a car accident, it’s important to maintain your vehicle. When something fails or malfunctions, good driving habits only do so much.
Take your car for routine checks. In doing so, you help to ensure your tires and brakes are ready for the road.
Practice Defensive Driving
When you practice defensive driving, you help to reduce statistics. Where do most collisions happen? Unfortunately, they happen wherever people make mistakes or don’t pay attention.
If you want to hone your driving skills, consider taking a defensive driving course. On top of bettering yourself, some insurance companies offer discounts on courses. Some providers even offer discounts on your premium after you pass.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
Now that you have an answer to “where do most collisions happen,” hopefully you have a better chance of avoiding a collision. However, if you find yourself the victim of a negligent driver, it’s important to remember that you have rights.
If you or a loved one sustains an injury in a car accident caused by someone else, reach out to a skilled trial lawyer. With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you have the opportunity to pursue compensation.
For immediate legal assistance, schedule a free case evaluation with our team. As your advocates, we seek to maximize your settlement. That helps you cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more.
For a FREE consultation, contact our personal injury law firm today.