According to car fatality statistics compiled by experts in 2016, there were nearly 40,000 fatalities from car accidents alone. Accidents are the 4^th leading cause of death in America, and the top cause for everyone under 44 years old. The National Safety Council estimates that the odds of dying in a car crash over a lifetime is 1 in 114, compared to nearly 1 in 10,000 for dying in air or space travel.

All these facts point to cars being more dangerous than we think. Watch out for some of these top causes of fatal car accidents to help make the roads a safer place.

• Failure to Stay in Lane – In the majority of states, the leading cause of death in car accidents is drivers drifting or swerving out of their lanes. This issue is incredibly easy to fix: just keep your eyes on the road! Avoid cars which seem to have trouble keeping in the proper lane.
• Ignoring Right of Way – Though it might seem like nobody else is coming, take an extra second to look before pulling out onto a road. If you only check the oncoming traffic quickly before speeding out, you could hit a driver doing an unexpected U-turn or a pedestrian crossing the street. Slow down and check your surroundings in all directions to be safe.
• Reckless Driving – This is the leading cause of car accident fatalities here in Florida. Again, this problem is easily solved by using common sense and obeying road rules. Speeding, taking blind turns, unexpectedly changing lanes, and texting while driving are all failures to exhibit responsible driving behavior.
• Overcorrecting – Of all the leading causes of deaths, this is the most understandable. It is only natural to panic when you are going off the road, see a large obstacle, or catch someone drifting into your lane. But as long as you are paying attention to your surroundings at all times, you should hardly ever need to jerk the wheel reactively to dodge something.

If a family member or loved-one has been killed in a car accident, know that you might be entitled to compensation for your loss. At The Troutman Law Firm, we specialize in representing victims of auto accidents and will fight for all the money you deserve from the guilty party. Whether the responsible person swerved out of their lane or ignored right of way, our attorneys will make sure that you are compensated for their negligence. For a free case evaluation, call us today at 407-647-5002.