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Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Colorado

A Colorado car accident can be caused by a variety of factors. Whether it is another driver's negligent actions or an improper design in the roadway, the ultimate effect is the same: you were injured. If you were injured because of the intentional or negligent actions of another person or company, you deserve to be compensated for the injuries you suffered. You should not be the one required to pay the cost of the accident when it was not your fault.

Understanding the various causes of motor vehicle accidents can help you approach your injuries with the knowledge necessary to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. With the help of a qualified and competent attorney, you can learn about your options and pursue the financial compensation to which you are entitled. You will not have to fight this fight alone.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed as the result of an automobile accident in Denver or the greater Denver metropolitan area, an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com can fight for the financial compensation you deserve.

Car Accident Lawyers in Denver, Colorado

If you were involved in a car accident in Denver or the surrounding areas, the cause of that car accident is an important thing to determine. When the cause of the accident is due to the fault of another person or another entity, it is the responsible party that should bear the costs of your injuries and property damage, not you.

No matter how small or how big your case may be, the accidentdenver.com team will keep you informed every step of the way throughout the process and they will handle every detail seamlessly to put you on the road to recovery. Our team at accidentdenver.com pride themselves on clear, honest, and open communication with each and every one of their clients.

Our attorneys at accidentdenver.com take cases on a contingency basis, which means that you pay nothing until your case has reached a favorable resolution. Let us put our years of experience to work for you and your loved ones.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Denver, Colorado

There are many different things that can cause a car accident to occur in Denver and in the areas surrounding it. With the help of your personal injury lawyer, you can determine the cause of your accident, and who the responsible party is for the accident. With that help, you can file and prove your lawsuit to win the financial compensation you deserve.

While this page cannot cover all of the potential causes of a car accident, some of the most common are discussed in more detail below. If the car accident was caused by another person, no matter what the reason, we can help you determine the strength of your case and how to best pursue it.

Improper Road Design

When roadways are improperly designed, they can create problems rather than fix them. Poorly designed roads can cause congestion, high risks of accidents, or even confusion that may lead to a collision. Although the majority of accidents are caused by some type of human error, when badly planned roadways are the cause or contribute to the cause, there are other parties that can be held responsible for the injuries suffered as a result.

Even the best of drivers can fall prey to a badly designed roadway. For example, if lanes are created too narrow to allow for typical traffic, turns, or stops, it can very easily lead to an accident that could otherwise be avoided. Here in Colorado, it is a fact that we must deal with winding and curvy roads simply because of our geography. However, road design can and should take this into consideration in a way that makes it safe to drive. When the design does not, the designers could be held responsible.

Types of improper road design include, but are not limited to:

  • lack of guardrails,
  • overly narrow lanes,
  • confusing intersection,
  • blind turns,
  • lack of shoulder,
  • lack of traffic signals,
  • improper lane markings,
  • offset intersections,
  • poorly marked speed limitations,
  • poor quality of building materials, and
  • drop-offs or unmarked steep declines.

Depending on the nature of the improper road design, various parties could be held responsible for your accident. These include:

  • city, county, or state governments;
  • engineering firms;
  • contractors; and
  • construction companies.

If you believe improper road design may have contributed to your accident, please feel free to contact us and we can put our years of experience to work for you.

Poor Road Conditions

The condition of public roads can have a major impact on whether an accident is likely to or will occur. While the majority of severe accidents are due to other drivers' negligence, poor road conditions contribute to a significant number of total accidents every year in Colorado.

Governmental entities and those in charge of maintaining Denver roads are responsible for ensuring that highways and other roads are not especially dangerous to those traveling upon them. While a government cannot protect against every possible harm, it is their job to protect against harm from poor road conditions. There are standards set by such bodies as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and even the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices that can be used as standards governments can be held to.

Our firm has the years of experience and expertise to analyze the specifics of your case to determine whether poor road conditions played a part in the accident and whether the government (or another responsible party) can be held responsible for your damages.

Common poor road conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • failure to maintain traffic signals (i.e., stoplights);
  • failure to clear snow and ice;
  • failure to repair dangerous road conditions (such as potholes);
  • failure to repair bridges;
  • failure to trim, mow, or prune branches or high grass; or
  • failure to clean up known oil spills or other dangerous chemical spills.

Suing the government comes with certain unique issues (i.e., sovereign immunity), but with the right legal help, you can know that your case is handled correctly.

Drowsy Driving

One of the most dangerous causes of roadway accidents is when other drivers are "drowsy." Drowsiness can mean simple sleepiness or inattentiveness, or it could even include intoxicated drivers who are struggling to stay awake. Driving requires full attention to the road by a driver who is awake and alert. When a person is drowsy or even falls asleep at the wheel, a car accident feels almost inevitable.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly 328,000 drowsy driving accidents occur in the United States every single year. This is an incredibly common problem. Many accidents occur as a result of:

  • people not seeing others on the road,
  • falling asleep and crossing into oncoming traffic,
  • going off the side of the road,
  • missing red lights at an intersection,
  • excessive speeds,
  • swerving or other unexpected behavior, and 
  • sudden braking.

Finding and presenting evidence of drowsy driving can sometimes represent a challenge for inexperienced lawyers, or those trying to represent themselves. Often, the tell-tale signs of drowsy driving are subtle and may be hidden from view at first. A strong investigation can reveal the proof and evidence you need.

With the right legal team in your corner, you can find and use evidence of the other person's drowsy driving to get the financial compensation you deserve.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in Denver, Colorado, and the entire United States of America. Approximately nine people are killed and over 1,000 people are injured in distracted driving-related car accidents every single day. This number continues to increase over the years, driven primarily by our increased access to handheld technological devices.

To drive safely, a person needs to keep his or her eyes on the road. When a person takes their eyes off the road, even for a second, the consequences can be catastrophic. A driver can miss changes in the speed of other drivers, brake lights, or even hit and kill a pedestrian, all in a matter of seconds.

Examples of distracted driving include, but are far from limited to:

  • fiddling with the radio controls,
  • using a cell phone,
  • texting and driving,
  • eating while operating a motor vehicle,
  • drinking (whether alcohol or non-alcohol),
  • speaking with passengers,
  • dealing with children in the back seat,
  • dealing with a pet,
  • daydreaming,
  • looking at things on the side of the road (an attractive person, police lights, another accident, etc.),
  • looking at billboards or other signs,
  • watching videos (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.), and
  • checking social media.

Texting while driving is one of the most common causes of accidents, as it requires both taking a person's hands off the wheel, and the eyes off of the road. Many people will type an entire text while taking their eyes off the road, resulting in many seconds of unsupervised driving. 

When a distracted driver caused injury or death to you or a loved one, you are entitled to bring a personal injury lawsuit to recover financial compensation.

Improper Turning and Intersection Violations

Many accidents occur because people fail to follow the law and a reasonable sense of safety when at intersections and when making turns. Turns and intersections are especially dangerous because multiple directions of travel come together in one space. This increases the likelihood of an impact.

Intersections can be especially dangerous because of the potential for high-speed collisions either head-on or from the side. While even rear-end collisions are dangerous, front end and side impacts are especially dangerous for those in the vehicle. The high speed combined with the reduced protection afforded at these angles can lead to even more serious injuries or death.

Many improper turns, failures to stop, or other intersection violations are also violations of Colorado law. When road laws are violated, this can be excellent proof of the other driver's fault in causing your injuries. When this is the case, you and your attorney can use that evidence to better develop your case and prove that you are entitled to compensation from the responsible driver.

Road Rage Accidents

Another common cause of Colorado car accidents is due to "road rage." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as "angry and violent behaviors at the extreme of the aggressive driving continuum." It defines aggressive driving as "dangerous on the road behaviors."

Road rage is extremely dangerous. When an angry person wants to hurt another or get some type of "revenge," they have an extremely dangerous weapon at hand: their motor vehicle. Road rage is often seen in the form of:

  • speeding,
  • tailgating (following too closely),
  • excessive honking of the car horn,
  • cutting off other vehicles,
  • illegally passing or changing lanes,
  • flashing headlights constantly,
  • intentional use of "brights" to blind another driver,
  • weaving in and out of traffic,
  • running stop signs or red lights,
  • driving close to another driver,
  • throwing things at other drivers,
  • firing a weapon at another driver, and
  • cursing, using profanity, or rude hand gestures (i.e. using the middle finger).

Evidence of road rage practices by another driver can prove that that driver was operating the vehicle recklessly, negligently, or even intentionally when the accident occurred. "Reckless driving" occurs when a person operates a motor vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others. This can be powerful evidence that the other driver was the cause of the accident.

In some cases, even if you actually did something that caused that person's anger, if the other person's rage and actions are what caused the eventual accident, your initial conduct may not be an issue at trial (i.e., you accidentally cut someone off). Don't assume that because you committed a minor infraction that may have caused the road rage that the eventual accident was your fault. It is the road rage driver who should be held responsible in most cases.

Consult an Experienced Denver Auto Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the greater Denver metropolitan area, please do not hesitate to contact accidentdenver.com today at 303-642-8888 for a free consultation. We are here waiting for you.

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