Sadly, thousands of people are killed in road traffic collisions every year. Millions of people also suffer injuries in crashes. One of the most troubling aspects of this is that many car accidents are preventable.
Preventable accidents are often the result of negligent driving. What are some of the more common examples of negligent driving?
Driving while distracted
Driving is an activity that requires a lot of focus. There is no time for road users to be inattentive. Nonetheless, many drivers do become distracted and cause accidents. Distractions come in three forms, cognitive, physical and visual. Some of the most frequent examples include:
- Texting or taking a phone call
- Eating or drinking
- Smoking
- Being highly stressed
- Focusing on the outside environment
It only takes a second or two of distraction for a devastating accident to occur. As drivers owe one another a legal duty of care, being distracted can be a form of negligence.
Driving at high speeds
It has been shown that the higher the speed at which a collision occurs, the more likely serious injuries and fatalities are. That’s why speed restrictions are in place. When a driver exceeds the speed limit by an excessive amount, then they are acting negligently.
Other forms of negligent driving include:
- Dangerous overtaking maneuvers
- Driving too slowly
- Running red lights
- Tailgating
- Aggressive driving
Essentially, negligent driving occurs when a driver acts in a manner that a reasonable person would not.
If you have been involved in an accident, then you may be entitled to personal injury compensation. The deciding factor will be whether or not the other driver acted negligently. Seeking legal guidance will help you establish whether or not this was the case.