Where Do Most Car Accidents Occur?

Car accidents are always unexpected and often frightening. You know the reasons why they happen, but do you know where most of them occur? Some locations, such as parking lots, might surprise you, others less so. While we can’t control everything around us, knowing this information could help you be more aware when driving in these settings.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury in a car accident, The Dominguez Firm is here to help. Call us at (800)818-1818 for a free consultation today. Let our personal injury attorneys fight for your rights and the compensation you’re entitled to. We’ll handle the insurance company while you concentrate on getting better.

What follows is more information on where most car accidents occur and why.

So, Where Do Most Car Accidents Occur?

From country roads to freeways, car accidents occur more frequently in the following places:

Rural Roads

A driver stuck in Los Angeles rush hour traffic may daydream about cruising winding roads surrounded by vineyards. But the reality isn’t as carefree. Drivers deal with slow-moving agricultural equipment and sometimes sudden encounters with animals. And even though rural roads have much less traffic, any car accidents usually happen at much higher speeds, meaning more deaths and catastrophic injuries. A study of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows that although only 19% of Americans live in rural areas, almost half of all traffic accident deaths occur on rural roads.

Another contributing factor is the lack of safety features on rural roads. Unlike urban streets, many lack guardrails, rumble strips, and clear signage. This can increase the risk of accidents and make their consequences more severe. Additionally, they are often narrower than urban roads, which makes the possibility of head-on collisions more likely.

Freeways

Freeways accommodate high-speed travel, making them popular with drivers. However, many car accidents occur on them for several reasons. One of the main reasons is those vehicles traveling at high speeds. Drivers have less time to react to unexpected obstacles or changes in traffic, which can lead to serious accidents.

Freeways also tend to be crowded, especially during peak hours, which increases the risk of accidents. When traffic is heavy, drivers may become impatient and take unnecessary risks, such as tailgating or weaving in and out of lanes, which can cause accidents. When you add motorcycles and large commercial trucks to the mix, it’s understandable why many car accidents occur there.

Parking Lots

Given the low speeds most drivers use to navigate parking lots, it may surprise you to learn many car accidents happen in parking lots. One of the main factors is the presence of many pedestrians. Drivers and pedestrians come into very close contact with each other. This combination causes serious pedestrian accidents and even deaths. There are several other reasons why parking lots produce so many accidents:

• Parking lots are often crowded and chaotic, especially during peak hours, making it difficult for drivers to navigate and find a spot. As a result, drivers may become impatient and take unnecessary risks, such as speeding or cutting off other drivers, which can lead to accidents.

• Many drivers in parking lots are distracted. They could be talking on their phone, texting, or looking for someone or something. This can lead to not seeing pedestrians or other vehicles, increasing the chances of an accident.

• Parking lots can have tight turns and narrow spots and lanes, which some drivers have trouble navigating, particularly those in larger vehicles.

Intersections

All of us have faced having to cross a major intersection. In larger cities, pedestrians sometimes have to navigate six or even eight lanes of traffic. If the pedestrian is elderly, a child or a woman pushing a stroller, the dangers are magnified even more.

These intersections can be highly congested, making them ripe for car accidents, too. Impatient drivers or those distracted by cellphones may not see a city bus pulling away from a stop or try to change lanes without looking, often with disastrous consequences.

Another reason why many car accidents occur at intersections is drivers must make quick decisions, especially at traffic signals. For example, one of the leading causes of all traffic accidents is left-hand turns. According to the NHTSA, 22% of all car accidents in intersections happened when drivers tried to turn left.

In Residential Areas

Many car accidents happen near homes. One of the main ones is that residential areas often have lower speed limits, which can cause drivers to become complacent and less attentive. In addition, drivers may be more likely to take familiar roads for granted and not pay as much attention to their surroundings, leading to accidents.

The presence of pedestrians, especially children, also causes many residential area car accidents. Neighborhoods are often busy with foot traffic, especially during peak hours such as when school lets out or during rush hour. Children can be unpredictable, and drivers must be extra careful around them.

Additionally, many residential areas have narrow streets, limited visibility, and parked cars that can obstruct a driver’s view. This can make it difficult for drivers to see other vehicles or pedestrians, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Finally, many drivers may be distracted while driving in residential areas. They may be looking for a specific address or be distracted by their phone, leading to accidents.

If You Were Seriously Injured in a Car Accident, The Dominguez Firm Can Help

No matter where your car accident happened, if you were seriously injured or lost a loved one, the personal injury attorneys at The Dominguez Firm are here to help. You don’t have to settle for less. You can and should hire our firm to represent you. Plus, we are not an attorney referral service. We are a full-service law firm with a team of award-winning litigation lawyers ready to fight for you.

You can afford to hire The Dominguez Firm because we don’t require any money upfront: no retainer fees, hidden costs or out-of-pocket expenses, period. Instead, we receive a percentage of your final settlement or verdict. And in the very rare event we don’t secure any compensation for you, you owe us nothing. You truly have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Call us for a free consultation at (800)818-1818 today.