The majority of car collisions occur close to home, with only approximately one percent happening more than fifty miles from home. Of course this statistic makes more sense when you remember that most of our driving takes place close to our homes. We go to work, we take the children to school, we go to the grocery store, to church, to the movies and to visit our friends, and all of these driving trips are generally within a few miles of our home. This means that of the over six million car accidents which occur every year in the United States, less than 60,000 of those happen more than fifty miles from home.

Driver Behaviors Responsible for Accidents

Most accidents could be avoided if the drivers behaved in a more responsible manner. Over a third of all accident fatalities are attributable to drinking while driving, another third are the result of drivers exceeding the speed limit, and the final third are due to reckless driving.  The driver of the vehicle is the person in the car who generally suffers the most injuries or even death, followed by the passengers in the car, pedestrians and cyclists. Even with all the information on seat belt safety as well as the current seat belt laws, almost half of the persons who are killed in car accidents were not wearing their safety belt at the time of the accident. Distracted driving is a huge contributor in car accidents, with distractions falling under cell phone use, talking to passengers, eating or drinking or playing with the radio.

Places Auto Accidents Occur Most

Residential neighborhoods tend to be an area where auto accidents happen. Although you would assume that a residential neighborhood would be quiet with few problems, drivers must be alert and aware that there are reduced speed limits as well as children playing in the streets. Parked cars can be a hazard to drivers as well as pedestrians who can come out of nowhere.

Parking lots are another common place for accidents to occur. It’s easy to get distracted when backing out of a parking space and find yourself colliding with a vehicle which could be traveling much too fast for the situation. You must pay extra-special attention to pedestrians and parked cars in order to avoid a potentially serious accident. Many accidents occur in construction zones, especially when drivers do not pay heed to reduced speed limits.

Most Dangerous Cities for Accidents

A CNBC study found San Bernardino, California to be one of the most unsafe cities in the U.S. based on deaths resulting from auto collisions however other studies place Washington D.C. at the top of the list. In fact, the nation’s capital has garnered the top spot in many studies regarding the number of auto accidents.  Following San Bernardino, CNBC’s list adds other cities such as Little Rock, Salt Lake City, Jacksonville and Oklahoma City to the dangerous cities list. Surprisingly, Los Angeles, California escaped the most dangerous cities list and, in fact, San Bernardino was the only California city to receive this dubious honor.

Time of Year Most Common for Accidents

As far as time of the year, August appears to win the prize for being the month with the most automobile accidents, for reasons no one can clearly define. It is possible that many families are taking their final trip of the summer before school starts for the year, and because there are so many more travelers on the highways, the accident risk increases.

Whether you’ve been involved in an accident in August, close to your home or far away, in a residential neighborhood or a parking lot, in Washington D.C., San Bernardino or any other city in the nation, discussing the circumstances of your case with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can determine whether you have a good case for recovery or not. An experienced attorney can protect your rights and guide you through the complexities of the legal system as well as ensuring you get the maximum settlement for your injuries.