Auto accidents are one of the risks that go with driving a motor vehicle. In 2019, more than 36,000 people died in auto accidents on U.S. roads according to NHTSA data. That's a lot of carnage on the highways! Why do auto accidents happen? The leading cause is impaired driving. Depending on the statistics you use, roughly 34% to 45% of all accidents involve alcohol and/or drugs (legal as well as illegal). The majority of these accidents involve young male drivers on the road late at night typically on a weekend or holiday. But drunk drivers can be on the road anytime and any place, and they may hit anything or anyone who happens to get in their way. Wrong Way drivers are often drunk drivers. "Driver error" is blamed for anywhere from 25 to 33% of all crashes, which includes such things as dumb driving blunders, failure to avoid another vehicle or object, failure to take the appropriate evasive action, inexperienced driving, driver fatigue, falling asleep behind the wheel, aggressive driving, reckless driving and distracted driving (talking on a cell phone while driving, eating, fiddling with the radio, heater or A/C controls, reading, day dreaming, etc.). When you combine the auto accidents caused by driver error with impaired driving, human factors can be blamed for at least three out of every four accidents. The "nut" behind the wheel is almost always to blame when an auto accident occurs. So if you have been injured in an accident, you should find a good personal injury attorney to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve and the legal assistance you need to win your case. Weather is another contributing factor that plays a role in12% to 20% of all auto accidents. This includes rain, snow, sleet, ice, fog, strong winds and smoke. Weather doesn't necessarily cause accidents. But it certainly increases the risk of having an accident by reducing traction and visibility. If drivers fail to adjust to the changing weather conditions, it increases their risk of skidding, hydroplaning, losing control or not seeing another vehicle or obstacle. If the road is getting slick, slow down and allow more distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. And if the road is getting really slick (like 100% ice covered), get off the road and find a place to stay until weather conditions improve. Better to arrive late than not at all. Heavy rain, sleet and snow can also limit visibility, even if you have good wipers and they are running at high speed. Following the taillights ahead of you when driving under poor visibility conditions is NOT a good idea. Why? Because if the driver ahead of you runs off the road, you'll follow him MECHANICAL FAILURES CAUSE AUTO ACCIDENTS TOO Mechanical failures are a factor in 12% to 13% of all auto accidents, according to all of the statistics I could find on the subject. In most cases, the mechanical failures can be attributed to normal wear or a lack of proper vehicle maintenance, not poor design or manufacturing defects (though there have been plenty of examples of the latter over the years). If you have been involved in a car accident which you suspect was caused by a manufacturing defect, the first thing you should do is consult a good personal injury attorney. They will review your case and help you recover costs and damages that resulted from your accident. Although mechanical failures are involved in only a small percentage of all auto accidents, they still represent a risk factor. So why take unnecessary chances? The risk of having an auto accident due to mechanical failure can be greatly reduced by taking better care of your car: * Check the inflation pressure in all of your tires regularly (at least once a week, or when you get gas, and always before a long trip). Inflate tires to the recommended pressure in your owner's manual or the tire inflation guide decal in the glove box or door pillar. * Check your tires for unusual or uneven wear, and replace the tires if they are worn down to the wear bars on the tread. Tires more that are more than six years old should also be replaced. See Watch Out for Old Tires. * If your brakes are making noise, if the brake pedal is low or sinks to the floor, if the pedal pulsates or feels soft or spongy when you apply the brakes, or the brakes pull to one side, your vehicle has a brake problem that needs to be diagnosed and repaired. Don't drive with bad brakes. WARNING: If the red BRAKE warning light comes on when you apply the brakes, your car may have a serious brake problem that requires immediate attention. Your vehicle may be unsafe to drive. If the amber ABS warning light comes when you apply the brakes, or if the ABS warning light remains on all the time, your ABS system has a fault and has disabled itself. This means your ABS system cannot intervene if you need it during a hard panic stop or when braking on a slick road. * Check your wipers. If the blades are chattering or streaking, or the rubber is cracked or torn, replace the wiper blades. Replacing the wiper blades yearly is a good idea. * Check your lights. Make sure all the lights work, including the brake lights and turn signals. * If your steering feels loose, the steering wanders while driving straight or pulls to one side, have your steering linkage and suspension inspected for worn or damaged parts. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY LEAD TO A CAR ACCIDENT Maintaining your vehicle means paying attention to the tires, brakes, steering and other safety systems to make sure your vehicle is safe to drive. Here are some problems you should watch for: UNDERINFLATED TIRES A study conducted by Indiana University way back in 1977 estimated that 1.4% of all auto accidents could be attributed to underinflated tires. When a tire is underinflated by more than 25%, it greatly increases the risk of the tire overheating and failing, especially when driving at highway speeds during hot weather. This study, along with a rash of fatal Ford Explorer rollover accidents caused by tire blowouts (which Ford blamed on poor quality Firestone tires, and Firestone blamed on drivers not keeping their tires inflated properly, overloading their vehicles, and/or driving too fast during hot weather) lead to the passage of the TREAD Act, which now required Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems on all vehicles as of model year 2008. WORN TIRES When the tread on a tire is worn down to 2/32 inch (16 mm), there is not enough tread left to provide safe wet traction. So when the tire hits a puddle on the road, there isn't enough groove depth left to handle the water. The water forms a wedge under the tread and literally lifts the tread off the pavement. This is called hydroplaning, and it is a potentially dangerous situation because the tire is no longer in contact with the road. It is skimming over the water with no directional stability or traction whatsoever. Under these conditions, the vehicle may lose control and spin if the vehicle is turning, accelerating or braking. If the vehicle is equipped with stability control, the stability control system may help the driver maintain control provided some of the other tires still have traction. But if all of the tires are badly worn and are hydroplaning on a wet surface, you vehicle essentially becomes a hockey puck. Under these conditions, the only thing you can do is to lift your foot off the gas pedal and/or brake pedal, and avoid making any jerky or abrupt steering maneuvers. When the vehicle slows and starts to regain traction, gently brake and reduce your speed. The condition of the tires should be inspected regularly. Look for unusual or uneven wear, bulges or wrinkles in the tire sidewalls, cracks in the tread that may indicate tread separation, or loss of air pressure. A small puncture in the tire or a rim leak where the tire bead seals against the lip of the wheel could lead to a flat tire or a blowout. BAD BRAKES Brake pads and shoes are wear items and have a limited service life. The more you drive and use your brakes, the more the brake linings wear. Eventually, they wear down to the point where they have to be replaced. The hydraulic and mechanical components in your brake system also have a limited service life. Over time, rubber seals and hoses can deteriorate and leak. Metal components can rust and corrode. If your brake system develops a leak, it may cause the brakes to fail because of loss of hydraulic pressure when you apply the brakes. Check your brake fluid regularly. The fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir will gradually drop as the brake linings wear. But if the level suddenly drops, it may indicate a leak and a need for immediate brake repairs. Symptoms of worn brakes include scraping metallic noises when you apply the brakes, a pull to one side when braking, a soft or spongy feeling brake pedal, a low brake pedal, or a peal that slowly sinks to the floor when you are holding pressure on the pedal at a stop light. Any of these can create a potentially dangerous situation, so don't neglect your brakes if you think they need attention. WORN STEERING LINKAGE The tie rod ends in the steering linkage will wear over time, and loosen up. This can cause looseness and play in the steering, which you can feel when you are driving. Your vehicle may also tend to wander when driving straight. The danger here is if a tie rod end fails and pulls apart. This can happen when the tie rod socket is badly worn and the ball stud pulls loose. If a tie rod end fails, you will lose steering control of your vehicle. The wheel on the side with the separated tie rod end will immediately be pushed as far back as it will go, causing the vehicle to veer sharply in that direction. If the left tie rod fails, that could pull you across the centerline of the highway into the path of oncoming traffic. To prevent this from happening, the tie rod ends should be inspected if your tires show unusual or repaid wear, or if the steering feels loose. The tie rod ends should be ch…

Fonte: AA1Car.com