Auto accidents in Virginia can occur because of any number of different factors, from bad weather to dangerous road conditions to drunk driving.

Unfortunately, fatalities and catastrophic injuries caused by auto accidents in Virginia have risen. Researchers have attributed these accidents and fatalities to several key causes:

• Distracted driving — According to DriveSmart Virginia, up to 80-percent of all automobile crashes in the state can be attributed to some form of distracted driving, including talking or texting on a cell phone, looking at a roadside incident, reading, eating food behind the wheel or reaching for an object and taking one’s eyes off of the road. Distracted driving is also responsible for up to 65 percent of all “near crashes” in the state and is particularly prevalent among younger drivers
• Driving while intoxicated — Alcohol-related crashes remain a top cause of motor vehicle accidents in Virginia and have increased since 2020.
• Speeding — In 2021, the number of speeding-related accidents rose significantly (almost 10-percent). Injuries and fatalities as a result of speeding related crashes also increased significantly, meaning that accidents resulting from speeding are becoming more and more dangerous for Virginia drivers.

The good news in Virginia is that the overall number of automobile accidents and injuries have been steadily declining over the last few years, with total accidents dropping from approximately 127,000 in 2017 to approximately 118,000 in 2021.

Although the causes mentioned above are the primary reasons that many drivers in Virginia end up in accidents, they are not the only causes of collisions and injuries. Drivers who experience an accident related to these causes, or for other reasons such as bad weather or poor road conditions, should consult with an experienced automobile accident attorney about their injuries to determine whether taking legal action against the other driver or other party is the best move for collecting the compensation they need to move forward. A knowledgeable attorney can help you consider what evidence to gather and preserve after your accident and how best to proceed.

If you have been involved in an accident as a result of distracted driving, speeding, a drunk driver, or any other type of negligence, the accident attorneys at Becker, Kellogg & Berry, P.C., in Springfield, Virginia can help answer any questions you may have about what to do to address your injuries and property damage. To set up a free initial consultation please call 888-312-5087 or contact us online.