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Road accidents are one of the most unfortunate incidents that could affect a person, but they are frequently observed. With a growing population and an increase in the percentage of vehicle owners, there has been a surge in the accident rate.
St. Louis is also an example of a city with higher accidents reported in Missouri. The Powell Law Firm here presents a detailed account of the statistics, facts, and figures.
Why Do Car Accidents Happen?
Most road users, drivers, or pedestrians are aware of accidents and personal injury. On the one hand, road users follow all the traffic rules to prevent such situations. However, at the same time, some drivers also exist whose recklessness may result in such unfortunate events or incidents.
Multiple reasons can be discussed for why car accidents happen in the first place. It can be due to natural events or human errors. Here are a few reasons:
Distracted Driving
One of the most common causes of a car accident is distracted driving. It is the influence of some other activity over the driver's primary task, that is, driving. These activities may include eating, drinking, conversing, and using a phone or electronic device like adjusting the radio, car temperature, or GPS. A loss in concentration for even a millisecond could result in a crash.
Road Condition
The other prime cause of car accidents could be road conditions. It could be potholes or even dangerous road turns. The road on which one drives plays a major role. If the road conditions are poor, it may lead to an automated car accident. The turns can be sudden and extreme, leading the driver to run off the road and cause serious injuries.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors also play a key role in affecting the safety of roads. Natural events like snowfall and rain can reduce the friction of the road and make them slippery. Such a condition can lead to slipping of the tires and result in an accident. Other environmental constituents like dust storms and fog can reduce visibility, worsening driving capabilities and increasing the chances of unprecedented crashes.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is broadly defined as drunk driving, lane splitting, speeding cases, running off red or stop lights, wrong-way driving, taking improper turns, driving when tired, or probably under the influence of drugs.
All this can result in hazardous consequences or deliberate injuries. Moreover, street racing and road raging due to driving behaviors can also be definite reasons.
Vehicle Defects
Vehicle defects include bursting or blowing out of tires, which can lead to losing control and ultimately result in car accidents. Damaged roads, large potholes, or driving through tough cracks and dips can be a reason for major tire blowouts. This can be dangerous if such a situation occurs in a compact or traffic-congested area.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in St. Louis?
According to the statistics, St. Louis has a population of 300,000, and the number of traffic accidents reported yearly is nearly 15,000. This concludes nearly one accident per twenty residents, which is a shockingly high rate. In addition, there has been an increase of twelve percent in accidental deaths compared to the previous years. If someone has been in a car accident at no fault of their own, contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer in St Louis at Powell Law Firm. They can help address various concerns, including what happens if there is no police report for a car accident.
Where Do Car Accidents Happen in St. Louis?
Based on data evaluated by the National Traffic Safety Administration reports, specific roads and turns have seen the highest traffic fatalities. They include:
Highway 110 near De Soto
Page Avenue in Wellston
Highway 30 between Lakenny Lane and High Ridge Boulevard
Interstate 70 between Union Boulevard and Salisbury Street
I-270 in North County
Natural Bridge Avenue between Hamilton Avenue and Farrar Street
Interstate 44 from Yarnell Road in Fenton to Lewis Road
Interstate 55 from Meramec Bottom Road to near Bayless Avenue, South St. Louis County
Highway 141 between Burgundy Lane and Carman Road
North Lindbergh Boulevard between West Washington Street in Florissant and Robbins Mill Road
Conclusion
While certain accidents result from the discussed factors, some accidents result from human error and negligence like distracted driving. This makes the guilty liable for a lawsuit and the victim eligible for compensation. If need be, one must know how to claim car insurance without a police report.
Although these laws are difficult and complex, drivers must stay updated with them to avoid legal problems. In case of legal problems, hiring a legal firm for help is always preferred.