Where Do Most Car Accidents Happen?

Car accidents are all too common and all too dangerous. They can happen at any time and anywhere. However, there are certain spots where car accidents are most likely to happen. If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, it’s time to consult with an experienced car accident attorney in Indiana.

Accidents Often Happen Close to Home

When you think of car accidents, it’s common to think of road trips and other travel that take you out and about, but the truth is that car accidents are most common when you’re close to home. An important study conducted by Progressive Insurance (and reported on by Autoweek) found that approximately 52 percent of all car accidents occur within about five miles of one’s home, and a full 77 percent occur within 15 miles. 

The fact that most of our driving is done near home (almost every outing begins and ends there) contributes to this statistic. We also tend to let our guard down a bit the closer we get to home. The two most important steps you can take to help you stay safe during every mile of your drive are to ensure that everyone in your vehicle is buckled up and to stay focused on the task at hand – driving safely.

Your Commute to and from Work

A lot of our driving time is devoted to getting back and forth from our jobs, which makes the daily commute a common source of traffic accidents. It’s easy to fall into autopilot mode when you’re driving the same route to the same place at the same time each day, and this can prove exceptionally dangerous. Some motorists take this opportunity to check their phones, do their daily grooming, and do all kinds of other things that shouldn’t happen behind the wheel of a car. In fact, distracted driving causes 3,142 deaths per year, and texting is considered one of the worst distractions out there.

Parking Lots and Structures

Parking lots, parking garages, and other parking structures see more than their fair share of car accidents. Many people compete for limited spaces in these areas with fewer clear driving rules and regulations in place – and plenty of drivers are more than willing to push the limits to get that perfect spot. Accidents in parking areas tend to be low-speed accidents, but they can still be dangerous.  

The National Safety Council reports the following on parking lot accidents:

• Car accidents in the tens of thousands happen every year in parking lots. 
• Parking lot accidents are even more common during the winter holiday season. 
• Distraction plays a primary role in parking lot accidents. 

Intersections

When it comes to car accidents, where roads intersect with one another are the most dangerous of all. Intersections, with traffic coming from all different directions, are a setup that increases the risk of car accidents. The Federal Highway Administration shares that about half of all the injury-causing accidents and about a quarter of all fatal accidents on our roads happen in intersections.

Rural Roads

The PEW Charitable Trusts reports that car accidents are considerably more likely to occur on rural roads than they are in busier urban settings. While the focus tends to be on city streets, the truth is that almost half of all the traffic deaths in this country happen on rural roads – in spite of the fact that only about 20 percent of the total population resides in rural settings. In a recent year, the death rate on country roads was almost twice as high as the rate for urban streets. The factors that make the safety difference include:

• Drivers are more likely to pick up their speed on country roads (due to the decreased risk of being pulled over)
• Country roads generally have narrow shoulders, tend to incorporate a lot of curves, and often have inadequate lighting, and each of these can contribute to a road’s accident rate. 
• The increased wait time for emergency responders to arrive and transport accident victims to hospitals can also increase the death rate on rural roadways. In fact, in a recent year, 58 percent of car-accident victims on rural roads died while on route to the hospital, while 41 percent of car-accident victims on urban roads died during transport that same year. 

Staying Safe

Because not everyone takes the rules of the road as seriously as you do, it’s critical to always keep your wits about you behind the wheel. Some of the things you can do to help keep yourself safe out there – no matter where you drive – include the following:

• Know where you’re going and set your GPS (if you’re using one) before you head out.
• Be prepared for other motorists to throw caution to the wind in parking lots (don’t assume that the driver whose path you’re about to cross is going to stop at the stop sign, for example).
• Redouble your safety efforts when coming to and entering intersections.

Look to an Experienced Indiana Car Accident Attorney for the Legal Guidance You Need

Car accidents can happen anywhere, and if you’ve been injured in a car crash that was caused by another driver’s negligence, the veteran Indiana car accident attorneys at Blackburn Romey dedicate their impressive practice to helping clients like you seek fair compensation. We are on your side, so please do not delay reaching out and contacting us for more information today.