Common Causes of Car Accidents

America is a nation of hard working, multitasking individuals. Thanks to technology, extreme multitasking is more common today. We are a nation of people who are fast paced but when it comes to driving, we need to slow down. Roughly 10 million people are involved in car accidents each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers.

At Performance Rehabilitation and Integrated Medicine, we treat patients who have been involved in car accidents. We never like to hear about anyone involved in an accident, so we decided to put together a list of the most common causes of car accidents so you and your family and friends can be aware of them.

Speeding

Even if you are a seasoned driver, paying attention and think you can handle anything, you are wrong. It only takes a split second to lose control of your car and get into an accident when speeding. Slow down.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence is one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road today. MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, estimates that 300,000 incidents of drunk driving occur daily. Do your part by always designating a sober driver ahead of time or prepare and arrange for a taxi before going out. Speak up if you think someone has had too much to drink. It is better to be safe, than to be sorry.

Distracted Driving

In the age of the ever-evolving cell phone, having distractions is an easy thing to have happen. Talking on the phone, texting, eating, drinking coffee, doing makeup, reading, looking at a map, are just some of the ways drivers can be distracted. Pullover if you need to talk on the phone, the text can wait and get yourself ready before getting into your car.

Bad Weather

Slick roads and surfaces mean skidding, which means crashing… add to that snow and ice…forget about it. Slow down in bad weather.

Failure to Stop at Signs and Lights

You may think you can make the light, and sometimes you do but it only takes that one time you miss it to cause an accident. Drivers who run red lights are some of the biggest killers on the road. And every year, thousands of accidents and hundreds of deaths occur because a driver ran a stop sign or plowed through a red light.

Accidents happen, and sometimes they are out of your control. We offer treatment options to get you back on your feet and living with less long-term effects from your accident. Treatment options include Interventional Pain Management, Physical Therapy, Chiropractic Care, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and Massage Therapy. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident contact us for an appointment.