The Five Most Common Factors in Kentucky Vehicle Accidents
There are five factors contributing to most Kentucky vehicle accidents, according to state police statistics. They list 26 factors in their annual report on traffic accidents for 2023. These top five cause a substantial number of accidents that injure and kill people on Kentucky’s roads.
If you or a loved one is severely injured in a traffic accident, Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys can be your boots on the ground. Talk to a skilled personal injury lawyer about how an insurance claim or legal action might work for you. Call our office in Louisville toll-free at 855-385-9532 or complete our contact form to get started.
Kentucky’s Top Five Factors Leading to Vehicle Accidents
The 2023 report states these were the top five factors in causing vehicle collisions in the state:
- Driver inattention 36.5%
- Not under proper control 12.42%
- Failed to yield 11.74%
- Misjudge clearance 9.17%
- Following too close 6.06%
In 2023, there were 139,022 reported vehicle accidents, according to the Kentucky State Police.
1. Driver Inattention
This happens when the driver isn’t fully focused on driving and what’s going on around the vehicle. This could be caused by distractions, fatigue, intoxication, impairment, a medical emergency, or the person could be asleep.
This situation is more dangerous as the vehicle’s speed increases. As that happens, the driver has less time to recover, and the force of the car when it strikes something or someone increases, boosting the chances of severe or fatal injuries happening as a result.
2. Not Under Proper Control
Not maintaining proper control of a vehicle means the driver failed to safely and effectively operate the vehicle. Common signs of this include the following:
- Swerving or drifting between lanes
- Overcorrecting (jerky or exaggerated steering)
- Losing traction on curves or slippery roads
- Failing to slow down for traffic or hazards
- Braking too hard or too late
- Inability to keep a steady speed
- Releasing the steering wheel
The causes can be very similar to driver inattention, including distraction, drowsiness, and impairment. The driver may not realize they’re not under control. But a driver may intentionally drive dangerously, or there may be something wrong with the vehicle, preventing them from controlling it.
3. Failed to Yield
When there are conflicts or potential conflicts between multiple vehicles, the “rules of the road” spell out who has priority and who should wait their turn. There are many examples, including the following:
- Someone taking a left turn must wait for oncoming traffic to clear first
- A person merging onto a highway must wait for space to open up to move into the travel lane
- There is a stop or yield sign at an intersection
- A driver should get out of the way of emergency vehicles responding to a call
Failing to yield may do more than aggravate another driver. It could cause an accident.
4. Misjudge Clearance
Understanding the distance between your vehicle and another vehicle, an obstacle, or a pedestrian is critical to safe driving. You must also know whether this distance is remaining the same, growing, or shrinking as your vehicle and others move. Only when it’s safe should you maneuver your vehicle to where you want it to be.
To understand the distance, you must also be aware of it. Unthinkingly turning or moving into another lane is another way to cause a crash.
5. Following Too Close
You must maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. That means controlling and changing your speed to maintain this gap. If you’re too close and the other vehicle suddenly slows or stops, you risk rear-ending it. If you slam on your brakes to avoid a collision, you may lose control of your car, especially if the roadway is covered in water, ice, or snow.
If the vehicle in front of you is going below the speed limit, you should only pass it when and where it’s safe to do so, or you risk a head-on collision with oncoming traffic.
How These Factors Play Into Your Compensation Claim
If you’re injured in a vehicle crash caused by another driver committing one of these errors, and that can be proven, it strengthens your case because it’ll be easier to establish the other party is liable (is legally responsible to pay your compensation). If your mistakes also contributed to the crash, your recovery can be reduced by your share of the fault due to the state’s comparative negligence laws.
Speak To a Kentucky Vehicle Accident Attorney Today
If you are injured or a loved one is killed in a Kentucky car or truck accident, Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help you get the compensation you deserve. Put boots on the ground with our help.
To discuss your situation and how Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help, call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation.