St. Louis Car Crash Lawyers

Causes of Missouri Auto Accidents

Authorities who study traffic accidents agree: Almost all auto accidents could be prevented if everyone is a little more careful. In fact, in many accidents, there are multiple parties at fault.

It is not necessarily just drivers who could have contributed to the accident. Defective autos and auto parts, bad behavior by passengers or pedestrians, shoddy maintenance of public roads, poorly designed highways, not clearing brush or snow and other factors can all cause an accident.

Statistically, distracted or careless driving still accounts for most auto accidents. According to a 2006 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, almost 80 percent of crashes (and 65 percent of near misses) happen within three seconds of a driver distraction. The most common distractions the study found were:

Drowsiness;
Using a phone or other handheld device;
Reading;
Eating;
Applying makeup;
Reaching for something inside the car;
Staring at something on the side of the road ("rubbernecking");
Disciplining children.

The study also identified aggressive driving and unnecessary risks as a factor in crashes, especially among younger drivers. It did not address alcohol or drugs, but federal statistics show that about 40% of fatal accidents each year involve at least one intoxicated driver. Similarly, speeding is a well-known risk factor that contributes to about 30% of fatal crashes annually.

The vehicle itself can matter, too. Safety defects in a car, truck, SUV or motorcycle cause hundreds of recalls each year. Defects that aren't caught in time can cause a serious accident, through no fault of the drivers involved. Defective tires, seat belts, seat backs and throttles have all caused serious accidents in the past decade; some have caused high-profile, billion-dollar recalls.

Similarly, we now know that the first few generations of SUVs were defectively designed in a way that made them unreasonably likely to roll over. Auto and auto parts manufacturers, like all American companies, are legally required to make sure their products are safe to use. If they don't, and people are seriously hurt as a result, those people have the right to sue the manufacturers for compensation for their injuries.

Sometimes, factors outside of the vehicle can cause an accident, or make an existing accident worse. Local, state and federal government agencies are responsible for building and maintaining safe roads for the public -- but they don't always. They may build roads in a way that doesn't allow enough visibility to drivers, without necessary traffic-control signs, or without enough drainage to be safe during a rainstorm or blizzard.

Bad maintenance by government agencies and individuals can also cause an accident. They may allow plants to grow so much that they obscure essential road signs or even block the road. In winter, they may not adequately salt, plow or sand roads that are in high demand. And in every season, potholes and cracks can send a competent motorcyclist or driver out of control. We pay our taxes to ensure that public agencies build and maintain roads that are safe to use. When they don't, we have the right to hold them responsible in court.

If you've suffered a serious injury or the death of a loved one because of another driver's carelessness, you should call Page || Cagle as soon as possible to discuss your case with one of our skilled St Louis car crash lawyers. Our firm is dedicated exclusively to helping victims of serious injuries caused by car crashes and other accidents. And because injuries happen to everyone, not just wealthy people, we always offer free consultations to potential clients. If you'd like to learn more about your rights under Missouri law or Illinois law, contact Page || Cagle by filling out our confidential online case evaluation form, or calling 1.866.620.5757 or 314.322.8515.

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