No doubt most people love to drive their car and we do it often; we drive to work, we drive to purchase products or services and sometimes we simply drive for the enjoyment of driving. Unfortunately every time we get in to the car we take the risk of having an accident.

Car accidents can be caused by a vast number of different reasons including acts of God, human error or even road design defects. Below we'll take a look at some of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents and hopefully reading about some of these will help you to avoid an accident in the future.

Distractions

Nearly 50% of accidents in the United States are caused by driver distractions. These include things like talking or texting on your cell phone, eating food or drinking a beverage while driving, attempting to read documents like maps or directions, or even simply drifting away mentally. It's important to understand that most driver distractions can be avoided; keep your eyes on the road 100% of the time and if you cannot (maybe due to reading a map or needing to take a call) pull over until you can drive again in a fully focused state of mind.

Driving While Intoxicated

Of course, this is a big problem, it's very dangerous to drive while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, and it is the cause of many accidents each year. If you believe that you've had too much to drink, you should not drive at all, in fact many of the more experienced car accident attorneys will advise you to not drive if you've had more than one drink and even then you should not drive until at least an hour after finishing that drink.

Speeding

Many people believe that going just a few miles per hour over the speed limit is ok, but honestly it's not; if you are going over the speed limit and you hit someone, you will be held liable, even if it was just a few miles per hour over. So take care to not speed.

If you've been in an Accident

Regardless of how careful you are, accidents can still happen. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and has suffered injuries, you need legal assistance. After receiving treatment for your injury, take the time to find a reputable attorney in your area that specializes in personal injury. They will offer you a free consultation and explain your rights and help you determine whether or not you should file a claim for compensation.