Highways are all too often the scenes of car accidents, and they can be fatal. Drivers in Kentucky will want to know what factors are usually behind these accidents in order to avoid them. For example, civil engineers sometimes have to design highways with tight corners and narrow shoulders. Drivers may also face blind intersections that require drivers to exercise caution.
Road conditions are another common factor as rain and snow can make pavement wet and cause careless drivers to lose control. Rain and snow will also obscure the visibility of the vehicles in front. Drivers can, of course, endanger themselves without any help from the roads and the weather. Negligent driving can encompass everything from distracted behavior to intoxicated driving.
The most common distractions are arguably smartphones, infotainment systems and other technologies that drivers have easy access to inside the car. Drivers increase the risk for an accident every time they take their eyes off the road whether it’s to send text messages, eat, put on makeup or adjust the radio. Drivers can also impair themselves with alcohol, medications and drugs. Another frequent issue is road rage, which causes drivers to make unsafe, irrational decisions.
When a car collision arises from negligent actions, the victim may be able to file a third-party insurance claim. If the victim dies, the family may file a wrongful death suit as long as the decedent did not contribute to the accident. A lawyer may help make the whole process easier by hiring investigators to gather proof of the other party’s guilt. The investigators might bring in the police report and even reconstruct the accident. The lawyer may then proceed to negotiations, taking the case to court if the insurance company refuses to pay out.