Causes of RTA

25 July 2010

Causes of Car Accidents

In this article I will examine the various way an Road Traffic Accident (RTA) may occur, some of these may include things which are withing a drivers control and others which are out of the drivers control.

Factors that are within driver's control

Driver error:

This are one of the most common causes of car accidents. Examples of driver error includes driving too closing to other vehicles, driving at unsafe speed, failure to give right of way, swerving lanes, doing overtake manoeuvres when it is unsafe to do so and finally not indicting before making turnings (there maybe others).

Intoxication:

A lot of serious accidents are direct results of drivers consuming excessive amount of alcohol. Alcohol can seriously impair a motorist's ability to drive and therefore they are more likely to cause accidents. Some drugs can also impair a motorist's ability to drive.

Distraction:

Distractions may occur from outside of the car, such as when something at the side of the road draws a driver's attention. Distractions also occur inside cars, such as where the driver attempts to read or put on makeup while driving, change CD's in the CD player, dials a cellular phone, or attempts to parent an upset or unruly child.

When the driver's attention becomes diverted from the road, the chances of an accident increase.

Factors out of drivers control

I have listed some examples where a driver may be at fault for an accident but there may be other intervening factors that are out of his control that lead to it.

Road conditions:

Conditions of a roadway can be bad for a number of reasons, including weather poor design or maintenance, or the presence of objects or debris on the roadway. This can have a profound effect on driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle and leads to many accidents.

Bad weather:

Sometimes, bad weather conditions will contribute to an accident by interfering with visibility, diminishing traction on the road surface, or otherwise making it more difficult to drive a car. A driver should take the effects of the weather, such as strong cross-winds or slippery roads, into consideration when driving. Sometimes the weather will cause an unexpected hazard, such as black ice or flash flooding, which may not be detected by a driver until it is too late to avoid the hazard.

Vehicle defects:

There are many instances where an accident resulted from a defect with a driver's vehicle, such as a tire blowout, brake failure, or other mechanical failure. Sometimes the injuries suffered in an accident will be made worse by a design or manufacturing defect with a vehicle. It is a criminal offence to drive without a MOT and is advisable to have your car regularly checked, because even if there is a valid MOT and you car is found to have an obvious defect you may still face criminal charges.

Above are just some examples of causes of an RTA accident some are within drivers control and some are out of his control, it does not necessarily mean that you will be blamed for an accident if the cause of accident are due to factors within your control, nor will you be blameless if the cause of accident was not within your control. Every accident will be circumstantial.

If you have been involved in an accident and want to make a claim or a claim has been made against you always seek expert opinion.

Rashidul Islam is a Trainee Solicitor with Lawdit solicitors and can be contacted at rashidul.islam@lawdit.co.uk