Ask someone to think of a car accident, and they’ll often imagine two vehicles hitting one another. They may describe a car running a red light, swerving into oncoming traffic, or rear-ending another vehicle.
In situations like these, one driver is clearly at fault. Yet in some crashes, the cause remains mysterious. Some car crashes have unusual causes – and an experienced Arkansas personal injury lawyer can help you unravel them.
Recent Headlines Highlight Odd Causes of Car Crashes
Two “unusual” crashes grabbed headlines in neighboring states recently. In Shreveport, Louisiana, a driver suffered a crash after experiencing a medical episode. The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died as a result of the accident; a passenger, who was buckled in, survived.
In Mississippi, a semi truck and a pickup both hit a cow on Highway 84. The semi had bumper and fender damage. The pickup truck, which couldn’t avoid the cow after the semi struck it, rolled over. Both drivers were not injured, but the cow perished.
Disclaimer: The Law Offices of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. is not involved in either of the following accident cases. These incidents are shared solely for informational and educational purposes to highlight how unusual causes can lead to car accidents and the complex legal issues that may follow.
Other Unusual Causes of a Car Crash
Medical episodes and livestock in the roadway are less common than drunk, speeding, or otherwise negligent drivers. Yet they, and many other uncommon causes, can result in a car crash.
Other factors that may cause or contribute to a crash include:
Hidden vehicle or equipment defects. About 20 percent of vehicles on the road have at least one unrepaired defect that has been recalled. This means about 60 million vehicles travel US roads every day with a defect. You may not know your vehicle has a problem until it is too late to prevent an accident. On large trucks, defects in a trailer or cargo securement systems can also cause accidents.
Missed or delayed maintenance or repairs. About two percent of vehicle crashes are caused by mechanical breakdowns. Sometimes, these crashes occur because a vehicle’s owner or driver has skipped or delayed maintenance or repairs. Sometimes, the owner knows about the problem but chose not to fix it; sometimes nobody knows the problem exists until it causes a crash.
“Self-driving” vehicles. Several auto companies are testing and marketing systems that take over driving functions once left to a human being. Several crashes have made headlines when drivers assumed the vehicle could operate itself safely – only to learn too late that the car made a mistake.
Daylight Saving Time. One study found that fatal car accidents increase by 6 percent in the week following the Daylight Saving Time “spring forward.” This time change is linked to other problems as well, like lost work productivity, which may result from lack of sleep.
Other “time change” events, like the start of the school year, change driving patterns and sleep cycles, which can also increase the risk of a collision.
Natural phenomena. Animals in the roadway are a common example of nature contributing to vehicle accidents. Weather can also play a role in a crash. Yet these aren’t the only natural phenomena that can contribute to vehicle collisions.
An analysis of traffic accidents following a total solar eclipse in 2017 found that traffic accidents increased briefly as the eclipse occurred. Changes in the movement of light and shadow during an eclipse, plus driver distraction due to interest in the phenomena, may both have played a role.
How A Top-Rated Fayetteville Car Accident Attorney Can Help Solve the Mystery of a Car Crash
When a negligent driver violates the road rules and causes a crash, it’s reasonable to believe that the driver is at fault. But what do you do when medical incidents, livestock, hidden defects, or natural phenomena contribute to an accident?
An experienced Arkansas personal injury lawyer can help. Your attorney can investigate the chain of events leading to the collision. Your lawyer can help you determine exactly what caused the crash.
When you understand the chain of causes and events, you can more easily determine who may be at fault for the accident. You can seek compensation from those who were genuinely responsible.
Contact The Law Offices of Jason M. Hatfield, P.A. Today!
A collision that looks like your fault on the surface, for instance, may have resulted from a defective part in your car’s steering column. A defective part is the fault of the manufacturer, not you.
Without an investigation, you may never have this crucial piece of information. Without an attorney’s help, you may struggle to obtain the full, fair compensation you deserve – and you may be unable to hold a truly negligent party accountable for the harm they caused.
To learn more about how a car accident attorney can help after an Arkansas crash, talk to the team at the Law Office of Jason M. Hatfield today.
