Uncovering the Cause of Your Car, Truck or Motorcycle Accident

When you get injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, it is important to find out if you are entitled to financial compensation. From lost wages to ongoing medical expenses, the costs of accident-related injuries can be substantial; and, for many people, securing a financial recovery is the only way to truly move on.

In many cases, the cause of an accident will be clear: A speeding vehicle rear-ends another vehicle stopped in traffic. A driver enters an intersection on a red light and “T-bones” someone else who had the right-of-way. A commercial truck jackknifes due to harsh braking causing a multi-vehicle collision. These are all common scenarios in which it is clear (or, at least, usually clear) who was to blame.

But, determining the cause of an accident is not always so straightforward. In fact, in many cases, the cause of an accident will not be apparent at the scene of the collision. Here are three additional common causes of auto accidents that can only be uncovered with a thorough investigation:

1. Distracted Driving

Over the past several years, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle collisions. Each year, thousands of motorists are killed and hundreds of thousands are injured in accidents caused by distracted drivers.

A significant percentage of distracted driving accidents involve the use of smartphones. Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, taking selfies, and using social media are all much more likely to cause accidents than drivers whose attention is focused on the road.

2. Drunk Driving

Drunk driving continues to be a persistent issue as well. Alcohol intoxication limits drivers’ fields of vision, impairs their motor function, impairs their decision-making, and makes it much more difficult for them to avoid dangerous collisions. Even a couple of drinks can cause significant impairments, and far too many people make the mistake of drinking and then getting behind the wheel.

3. Vehicle Defects

In some cases, it is a vehicle, not a driver, that is responsible for causing a collision. Vehicle defects (hidden dangers resulting from poor design or issues during the manufacturing process) claim countless lives every year. While vehicle manufacturers have a responsibility to avoid selling defective vehicles and recall vehicles that have known defects, recalls often come too late to protect drivers and passengers from life-threatening injuries.

In order to uncover these “hidden” causes of auto accidents, it is important to conduct an investigation as soon as possible. From obtaining drivers’ phone records to inspecting damaged vehicles, there are several steps that may need to be taken to identify the party (or parties) that are responsible. An experienced Billings car accident attorney will be able to identify all of the potential causes of your accident and collect the evidence needed to recover the compensation you deserve.

Speak with a Billings Car Accident Attorney Today

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car, truck, or motorcycle collision, we encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. To speak with our most experienced Billings car accident attorney in confidence, please call 406-651-8888 or request an appointment online today.