Everyone needs to follow the rules of the road to prevent crashes, but far too many drivers don't.
Traffic violations often result in serious car accidents in Indiana. This is why drivers who break the law and cause car accidents need to be held accountable for their actions. But which violations often result in collisions? What legal options are available to injured accident victims?
Below, you can learn more about 5 common traffic violations and how they often result in auto accidents. And if you are involved in a collision for any of these reasons, make sure you fully understand your legal rights. Make sure you talk to the dedicated legal team at Glaser & Ebbs as soon as possible to see how an experienced Indiana car accident lawyer can help with your potential legal case.
How traffic violations cause car accidents
Thousands of people are injured or killed in collisions in Indiana every year. According to accident statistics compiled by the State of Indiana, 46,000 people are injured, and 700 people are killed in car accidents in Indiana each year.
In 2020, about 900 people were killed in car accidents in Indiana, the second-highest annual death toll in the state in the past decade, according to car accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Common examples of traffic violations that result in collisions include the following:
1. Speeding
Driving too fast remains one of Indiana's most common causes of collisions. Speeding drivers cause 9 percent of all car accidents and 25 percent of fatal collisions in Indiana, according to an accident analysis conducted by the state in 2019. This is because speeding drivers have less time and space to slow down and avoid collisions. In addition, the extra force of a speeding car usually causes greater damage and more serious injuries.
2. Drinking And Driving
The dangers of drinking and driving have been well-documented for decades. This is why Indiana has strict laws prohibiting intoxicated drivers from operating motor vehicles. Even so, some drunk drivers still get behind the wheel and end up causing serious or even fatal car accidents. In fact, 63 percent of fatal collisions in 2019 in Indiana involved drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to a state analysis of Indiana's car accident data. In 2020, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher killed 249 people, which was significantly higher than in 2019, when 200 people were killed in fatal drunk driving accidents in Indiana, according to NHTSA data.
3. Texting While Driving
Texting while driving (including reading, writing, or sending a text) has been against the law in Indiana since 2011. This is because traffic safety studies have shown again and again that texting drivers are highly prone to accidents. Part of it has to do with drivers not looking at the road while they're looking at their phones. But even if they are technically looking at the road, texting drivers are not paying attention to other vehicles on the road. Instead, they're cognitively distracted, meaning they're thinking about what's being said or written on their phone instead of other cars, pedestrians, or cyclists.
4. Disobeying Traffic Signs
Traffic signs can be found on almost every Indiana road and highway. From stop signs to yield signs, speed limit signs to crosswalk signs, drivers need to pay attention to these signs and follow their instructions. Unfortunately, some drivers don't stop for a stop sign or do not yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, resulting in serious accidents with severe injuries. Some of the worst accidents involve a driver running a red light or a stop sign, resulting in a dangerous intersection accident.
5. Aggressive Driving
Most drivers share the road and drive responsibly in Indiana. However, a small number of aggressive drivers wreak havoc on Indiana's streets and interstates. Aggressive driving that violates the state's traffic laws can cover a wide range, including weaving in and out of traffic, changing lanes without warning, and aggressive tailgating, especially at high speeds on a highway. People who drive this way and cause a collision should be held responsible for their actions.
Contact an Indiana car accident attorney today
You might think you don't need a lawyer if another driver broke the law and caused your collision. But in many cases, seemingly straightforward accidents turn into complicated legal cases. Often, it's because the other driver denies doing anything wrong. Other times, the at-fault driver's insurance company is the problem.
At Glaser & Ebbs, you can count on our highly skilled legal team to fight for your rights and aggressively advocate for your best interests—every step of the way. Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined legal experience and understand what it takes to get results in Indiana.
To discover how a Fort Wayne car accident attorney can help you, contact us today for a free case evaluation. We have six offices conveniently located throughout Indiana, including offices in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. In addition, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no fees unless we win your case.