Auto accidents happen every single day for many number of reasons. Some are very minor, but others are much more serious and even deadly. In order to help avoid accidents, it’s important to understand how they happen. Here are the top five common causes of auto accidents. Study them, and learn how to avoid making these common mistakes.

#1. Distracted Driving
The number one culprit for auto accidents is distracted driving. If a driver isn’t focused they may not be aware of what’s going on around them. They may not notice break lights, which means they won’t be able to stop in time. But simply not focusing isn’t the only form of distracted driving. Cell phones are a major culprit of distracted driving, whether it is talking on a cell phone, texting, taking pictures, or using social media. In most places using a cell phone while driving is illegal because it is so dangerous. If you need to use the phone, pull over or be sure to use a hands-free device.

#2. Speeding
Speeding is another cause of many auto accidents. When you are going too fast, it makes it very hard to stop in time to avoid a collision. It can also make it hard to react properly to various situations; it may not seem like much but even an extra second of time to process a situation can make a huge difference in your well-being and the well-being of those around you on the road.

#3. Trying to Beat a Red Light
Auto accidents in intersections can be very serious, especially when cross traffic is involved. T-bone accidents are very dangerous and one easy way to avoid them is to obey traffic laws and slow down for a yellow light instead of speeding up. You never know what someone in the cross traffic is going to do, so play it safe and don’t try to beat red lights.

#4. Following Too Closely
Rear-end collisions are very common because they combine several of the most common auto accidents. Speeding, distracted driving, and underestimating your ability or the car ahead of you can all cause a rear-end collision. But one way to avoid them is to stay back; don’t follow too closely. By following this rule, you will be able to slow down in time to avoid a rear-end collision.

#5. Underestimating Ability
Underestimating one’s ability while driving can cause an accident in many different situations. One specific example is when it comes to “shooting a gap” or trying to get across a lane or several lanes of traffic and underestimating the speed of the cars approaching and your ability to get across. Like a game of Frogger, you may think you can totally shoot that gap. However, unlike the video game the consequences can be deadly.

If, unfortunately, you find yourself in an auto accident you may be looking for an accident attorney especially, if the accident was caused by someone else who was not careful enough to avoid these five common causes of auto accidents. The attorneys at Cockayne Law are ready to help get you the money you deserve while letting you get on with your life. No matter what type of accident you’ve been involved in, auto or other, contact Cockayne Law today.