Car Accident Attorney in Prattville
In Alabama there is a car accident approximately every 200 seconds, according to Alabama Crash Facts. If you think it can’t happen to you, think again. You have a greater than one-in-three chance of being in an auto accident at some point that involves serious injury or death.All drivers should understand before they get behind the wheel that driving a car is serious business. You have a responsibility to yourself and others to follow the rules, which are established to keep everyone safe.
Unfortunately, it is often the actions of drivers that cause more than half of the crashes.
If you have been injured in a car accident in Prattville or a nearby community, attorney Chip Nix should be among your first calls. Mr. Nix has been practicing law for 40 years and understands how to advocate for you following your car accident in Prattville or elsewhere across Alabama.
Causes of Alabama Car Crashes
Prattville is in the center of Alabama about 13 miles from Montgomery. Known as the River Region, Prattville is surrounded by highways including I-65 on the eastern border, US Highway 82 comes from the west to connect to I-65. Alabama Highway 14 crosses east to west and US Highway 31 bisects the community from the north traveling south.
In 2018, there were 159,925 crashes in Alabama, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). As a result, 953 individuals lost their lives and 47,419 were injured. The number of crashes represents a jump of 1.87% over the previous year.
Most fatalities occur in rural areas, accounting for 62% of car crash fatalities, while more Alabama crashes occur within urban areas, according to 2018 Alabama Crash Facts. Most crashes occur within 25 miles of the casual driver’s home.
The top three top causes of injuries from a Prattville car accident are failure to use a seatbelt, speeding, and alcohol or drug use, according to state driving statistics.
Speeding
It’s a dubious distinction – Alabama is ranked 12th in the country for speed-related traffic fatalities. More than 300 individuals lost their lives annually between 2005 and 2010 due to speeding. There is a requirement that we all follow the rules of the road to not only keep ourselves safe, but out of respect of everyone else driving.
Speeding throws off that balance and can lead to reckless operation of your motor vehicle. In fact, reducing your speed 10 miles per hour will reduce the possibility of a fatal car crash by 50%.
Drunk Driving
Intoxication played a role in 4,368 car accidents in 2018. The standard for drunk driving is measured in blood alcohol content. Any BAC above 0.08% is considered intoxicated and can lead to arrest and jail. According to the Strategic Highway Safety Plan, 40 percent of drivers were injured when driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When comparing fatalities that result from an auto accident, the proportion involving DUI is five times that of all crashes.
Seatbelts
We often read about single car accidents where the motorist drove off the road and collided with a tree or a pole or rolled his vehicle. More often than not, that accident is fatal when the occupant is not wearing his seat belt and is ejected from the vehicle.
Almost 56% of fatalities were not wearing a seatbelt, according to 2018 Alabama Crash Facts. Often the motorist can fly outside a window or go through the windshield without the safety of a restraint. This is a totally preventable death, especially when you consider buckling a belt takes about 10 seconds.
Other causes of car accidents include:
A failure to yield the right-of-way – This is considered a leading cause of non-fatal car crashes, as reported by the 2018 Alabama crash facts. In 2018, there were 96 fatalities resulting from 23,000 crashes in Alabama.
Tailgating – Unless you plan on allowing one car length for every 10 miles of speed, such as 7 car lengths for 70 mph, you are tailgating. In Alabama in 2018, tailgating led to more than 22,000 car crashes resulting in four deaths.
Distracted Driving – Have you ever done any of the following when behind the wheel – changed the radio, turned around to talk to someone in the back seat, argued, texted, talked on the cell phone, dropped something, put on makeup, eat a meal, grooming. In a rural- two-lane road, the most frequent fatal crash involved driving off the road while distracted or intoxicated. In 2018, 39 fatalities were associated with distracted driving and the Alabama Department of Transportation reports in 2015, distracted driving led to 10,698 crashes in Alabama.
Inexperienced Drivers – Unfortunately, young, inexperienced drivers have the greatest number of crashes. Of all the fatal crashes, 9 percent were caused by drivers age 19 or under. Additionally, 20 percent were caused by drivers under the age of 25. For drivers and passengers ages 15-19, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death. When there are youngsters in the car, the state finds almost 20 percent involved in crashes were not restrained by car seats or seat belts.
Weather – When the weather becomes challenging, that is rain, ice, or snow, any driver should plan on reducing his speed by 10 mph.
An Experienced, Compassionate Alabama Car Accident Attorney
Whether you are involved in a car accident in Prattville or elsewhere across Alabama, Chip Nix will offer you a complimentary consultation after the accident. Do not speak to the other side. In some cases, the insurance industry will send a representative to the scene. They may even offer you cash right on the spot. This is never in your best interest.
Mr. Nix can thoroughly examine your case and advise you of your legal rights and options, so you can make the most informed decision on how you wish to proceed. To schedule your free consultation, message us online or call our office today at 251-220-3199.