Negligent Drivers in Pennsylvania (Part A)

Negligent driving is a broad term used to describe a myriad of unsafe driving practices that commonly result in accidents. This description can apply to drivers who speed, tailgate, fail to follow traffic laws and create a hazardous driving environment for everyone on the road.

In order to receive compensation for injuries you have suffered in a serious car accident in Pennsylvania, it must be proven that the driver who hit you was negligent. This can often be a difficult task to accomplish on your own. Therefore, you can get the assistance of a Philadelphia car accident attorney.

A Closer Look at Negligent Drivers

An experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney can look at the police report, along with other evidence from your accident to help determine if another driver or drivers were negligent when they caused your car accident.

Some common types of driver negligence include: 

• Speeding - this could refer to driving over the posted speed limit or driving too fast in certain weather/road conditions. When drivers speed, their risk of causing a car accident in Pennsylvania increases.  
• Driving aggressively - these offenses include following too closely, making frequent lane changes, speeding and running red lights. Aggressive drivers also tend to unnecessarily honk the horn and flash their lights as if they're driving an ambulance. Taking out frustrations on fellow drivers can lead to a serious car accident in Pennsylvania.
• Driving under the influence - alcohol and drugs, including prescription medications, will affect a driver's concentration, coordination, judgment and reaction time. Driving while impaired is not just negligent behavior, it's a crime. 

Distracted drivers who take their eyes, hands or mind off the road are also negligent drivers. In fact, a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) indicated that 80% of crashes involve distracted drivers.

Common Causes of Driver Distractions

Some of the reasons a driver could become distracted and cause a car accident in Pennsylvania include: 

• talking or texting on a cell phone;
• reaching for an object that has slid across the seat or fallen;
• looking at an accident scene or searching for a specific street;
• eating;
• applying makeup;
• changing the music on the radio or another device; and
• putting data into your GPS device. 

All of these negligent actions could lead to a car accident in Pennsylvania, as well as a personal injury claim. If you have suffered injuries caused by a negligent driver, a Philadelphia car accident attorney might be able to help you seek compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost earnings.

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