FACTORS THAT CAUSE CAR ACCIDENTS

More than 15,000,000 registered cars and pickup trucks in Colorado, which means millions of drivers are on the roads. Given the number of cars on the road, it’s no wonder that there were more than 400,000 car accidents in 2018 and almost 200,000 in the first half of 2019, according to data from the Colorado Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles FLHSMV crash dashboard.

Colorado’s highways, like those in every other state, remain dangerous because drivers make poor judgments. Whether a motorist gets behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, uses their phone while driving, or drives too fast for the circumstances, accidents happen every day of the year due to bad driver judgment.

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CITATIONS INDICATE A HIGHER RISK OF CAR ACCIDENTS.

The state of Colorado keeps track of the tickets that have been issued to motorists on Colorado roads. When establishing some of the most prevalent causes of car accidents, these figures may be used to understand the most typical infractions. Criminal and non-criminal are the two types of categorization. The numbers are as follows:

• In a single year, 359,956 criminal citations were issued.
• Suspended licenses (140,148, or 38.9%)
• 62,766 (17.4%) had no license or had an expired license.
• DUI citations accounted for 43,715 (12.1%) of all citations.
• Leaving an accident scene – 15,187 4.12 percent
• Driving while intoxicated – 5,979 1.16 percent

There were numerous other categories stated in the study, including highway racing, escaping, and other offenses, but the ones listed above stood out the most. Using just these categories, 96,436 of the 267,795 tickets issued resulted in guilty findings when pursued, accounting for 36% of all criminal citations, which is consistent with the overall average of 37% for all categories.

• In one year, 1,691,072 non-criminal citations were issued.
• Speeding in a posted zone (664,767, or 39.3%)
• 426,140 (25.2 percent) red light/stop sign infractions
• Drowsy/distracted driving – 197,657 (11.7%)
• Incorrect lane change/backing up – 78,226 (4.6%)

Other fines were issued for failing to stop school buses, following too closely, and toll violations, but these citations underline the dangers of Colorado’s highways. There were 1,366,790 tickets issued in these categories, resulting in 63,645 guilty verdicts. The 4.5 percent of guilty verdicts align with the overall percentage of 5 percent for all categories.

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DATA

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were an estimated 2,775,608 incidents on US highways in 2017, resulting in over 1.5 million injuries. A closer examination of the facts provided by the different databases on their website reveals the following as the most prevalent causes of car accidents:

DRIVERS WHO ARE DISTRACTED

Distracted driving has been identified as the leading cause of car accidents. Drivers may be distracted in various ways, including using their cell phones, programming GPS systems, eating, and even conversing with other passengers in the car.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving caused more than 3,000 deaths in 2017. Many states have passed legislation prohibiting mobile phones unless they are used with a hands-free device. Many accidents have occurred as a consequence of distracted driving, which has resulted in approximately 200,000 penalties.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

While Colorado presently only has rules in place that pertain to medicinal marijuana, recreational marijuana may be legalized in the future. Alcohol, prescription, and over-the-counter medicines, in addition to marijuana, may impair a driver’s reflexes, resulting in car accidents.

Drunk driving continues to be one of the most prevalent causes of car accidents. While there is no exact breakdown of non-alcohol operating under the influence OUI occurrences in Colorado, with over 43,000 DUI penalties issued, many accidents are likely to have occurred.

VIOLATIONS OF SPEED LIMITS

Whether on a city street or a rural road, speeding is one of the most prevalent causes of car accidents. It is typical for drivers to disregard speed restrictions, especially on highways, and these drivers are generally ignorant that driving fast slows their response time. In one recent year, more than 650,000 penalties were issued to speeding vehicles on Colorado highways.

RECKLESS DRIVING

Whether a motorist is being unduly aggressive, changing lanes too quickly, or just exceeding the speed limit, reckless driving is a continual source of anxiety for those who are driving safely. These drivers not only wreak mayhem on the road, but they also put cyclists, motorbike riders, and pedestrians at risk. When a car is driven recklessly, it is possible to lose control, and the consequences may be severe.

HIGHWAY CONDITIONS

While Colorado may not share some of the states’ concerns about snow or ice being a threat on the roads, we do have our own set of issues, such as rain, howling winds, and animals on the roadway. If a motorist is not paying attention to what is going on around them, any of these factors may lead to an accident.

Driving on congested highways may be difficult, and Colorado’s population rises during the winter months when snowbirds flock to the state to escape the cold. Drivers who fail to account for heavy traffic, changing road conditions, or failing to drive their cars properly put everyone on the road, including pedestrians, at risk.

WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

If you’ve been involved in a car accident on Colorado roadways, you should know what procedures to do immediately to safeguard yourself and any passengers in your car. Following an accident, there are a few things you should make certain happen, including:

GET OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Remove your car off the road as soon as feasible. This is critical because you will be obstructing traffic and may cause another collision, resulting in more catastrophic injuries. Get your car to the side of the road as far away from traffic as feasible if humanly possible.

CHECK THE CONDITION OF ALL INVOLVED

You should check the condition of everyone in your car, as well as any other cars involved in the collision. This is critical because you should notify law enforcement if somebody needs advanced medical care, which may be supplied on the site by Emergency Medical Services EMS.

NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT

As soon as feasible, contact law enforcement personnel to ensure they are aware of the accident and inform them if an ambulance or EMS is required. If feasible, inform them of the number of cars involved in the collision and the number of individuals involved.

GATHER INFORMATION

Obtain the names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident if you are physically able. In addition, you should communicate information about your driver’s license and insurance with other drivers. Take pictures of the accident site using your phone, including road signs or traffic signals, speed limit signs, damage to the cars involved, and anything else that comes to mind.

SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT

Whether or whether passengers or operators feel they have been wounded, they should seek medical assistance. Because we all respond differently to trauma, all victims should be examined by a medical specialist to assure their safety.

TELL INSURANCE COMPANY

Because Colorado is a no-fault insurance state, you must notify your motor insurance company as soon as possible. There is no need to go into great detail; all you need to know is the date, time, and location of the accident and which law enforcement agency took the report. Remember how insurance adjusters function and use caution when disclosing information about your health state and the occurrence.

Obtain legal counsel — If you’ve been in a car accident on Colorado roads, you should seek legal assistance to learn about your legal options under Colorado law. The majority of us are unaware of our options for recouping financial losses, and your insurance provider is unlikely to clarify your options to you. Because a consultation with a Colorado car accident attorney is free, you may learn more about your choices.

AFTER AN ACCIDENT, DEALING WITH HEALTHCARE COVERAGE

You should report your car accident to your healthcare insurance provider. Remember that drivers who have Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay), which is required in Colorado, should ask their car insurance company to reimburse their medical expenditures under this provision. Remember that, since Colorado is a no-fault state, your insurance carrier is your first line of defense.

AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT, HOW DO YOU GET BACK ON YOUR FEET?

After a car accident, one of the most crucial things you can do is make sure you take care of yourself physically. Do not dismiss symptoms that appear out of nowhere, such as inexplicable discomfort, strange headaches, fuzzy vision, or other symptoms that might suggest a condition that needs to be addressed by a doctor. If you have any strange symptoms, see your doctor right away and keep track of any treatment you take.

Keep note of various things throughout your recovery, including:

NEW PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

Keep track of any symptoms that may have arisen due to the injuries you received in the car accident. If you have any strange symptoms, get medical help right away since they might have long-term health consequences.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

After a car accident, it is usual to feel emotionally exhausted for some time. Trauma is a concern when you’re in a catastrophic accident, so don’t dismiss these symptoms. Keep track of them and, if they appear to be becoming worse, get medical attention.

DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS

Keep meticulous records of all visits to your primary care physician, as well as any specialist testing, lab work, or therapy sessions. Additionally, you should keep track of your miles for these trips.

WORK DIFFICULTIES

If you can’t return to work right away after a car accident, keep note of how much time you’re missing. If your employer provides disability benefits, make sure you complete the right paperwork so you may continue to earn money while you recuperate. Keep track of the gap between your normal wages and your disability compensation.

HOUSE DIFFICULTIES

If you’re having trouble fulfilling your home commitments, such as cleaning, child care, or other routine activities, it’s a good idea to keep track of them with your other records. If you decide to file a personal injury case, this information might be crucial.

After a car accident, the last thing on your mind is to file a lawsuit against the motorist who caused your injuries. You may not have any other alternatives if you have experienced a significant injury that requires weeks of healing time, several appointments to the doctor, missed time from work, and other financial damages.

You might wind up paying thousands of dollars out of pocket while losing your job for weeks or months unless you or the responsible driver have more than the minimum needed PIP coverage.

By filing a case, a car accident lawyer may be able to help you recover your out-of-pocket expenses. This is another reason why it’s critical to keep meticulous records of how you’re feeling, medical appointments, and other relevant information.

SEEK THE ADVICE OF A SEASONED CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER

If you were involved in one of Colorado’s hundreds of thousands of traffic accidents and feel the other motorist was irresponsible, you have any questions. You may not know what actions to follow or what your legal rights are. By speaking with an expert car accident attorney as soon as possible, you can acquire answers to these issues as well as a clearer grasp of your rights under Colorado law.