Car Accidents and Highways
Cars bring great convenience to our lives, making it easy to quickly get from one place to another. Unfortunately, car accidents are the leading cause of injury in the United States each year.
While some accidents are not very serious and cause only minor injuries and damages, many car accidents cause catastrophic injuries or death. Some of the accidents that cause the most damage are those that occur on highways.
Car accidents on highways in the Sugar Land, TX area tend to result in significant injuries, steep financial losses, and emotional pain and suffering. The attorneys at Reed & Terry, L.L.P. can provide legal representation to victims of car accidents.
How Common Are Highway Accidents?
Many people fear driving on the highway because they are afraid to get into a car accident. Surprisingly, the majority of car accidents do not take place highways.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that car accidents most often take place within 25 miles of home. It is more likely that a person will be involved in a car accident in a parking lot or in an intersection close to home, rather than on a highway.
The Dangers of Highway Accidents
Although car accidents on highways are not as common, these types of accidents do tend to cause significant damage. When people are traveling down a highway, they are more likely to be driving at high speeds.
Any accident that takes place at high speeds will have a greater impact than one at low speeds. High-impact accidents can cause catastrophic injuries or death.
Another danger is that highway roads can be long and repetitive, which can contribute to drowsy driving or lack of attention. This is especially true of rural highways. The NHTSA found that in 2013 there were roughly 3,000 more fatal car accidents on rural roads than on busy city streets.
Causes of Highway Accidents
There are many causes of highway car accidents, but the majority of them are related to some form of reckless or distracted driving. Some of the most common factors to be attributed as a cause of highway accidents include:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving while drowsy
- Texting or talking on a cell phone while driving
- Sudden lane changes
- Poor weather
- Driver inexperience
Contact Us
If you have been injured in a highway accident and believe another driver was responsible, you may be due financial compensation for your losses. To learn more about your legal rights following an accident, contact us at your earliest convenience. You can set up a personal consultation with one of the experienced attorneys at Reed & Terry, L.L.P. by calling (281) 201-0988.
