Auto accidents occur in North Carolina for a wide variety of reasons, but the most common among those reasons is drivers not following the rules of the road. Car crash lawyers in North Carolina see this far too often. Regardless of an accident scenario, mistakes that drivers make fall into specific categories for the most part while they are behind the wheel. Congested traffic and aggressive driving can assuredly contribute to these issues, and when all aspects of traveling are combined, using the highway can be a personal challenge in many situations. This matters because fault is central to settling all North Carolina accident injury cases, and fault is often based on driver behavior while in transit on the highway. [Take a closer look at ‘fault’ and the law relating to contributory negligence here]
Here are the top five laws that NC drivers tend to ignore.
- Exceeding the speed limit
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield right of way
- Disregarding traffic signals
- Failure to use turn indicators
Let’s take a closer look at these road traffic offenses:
1. Exceeding the speed limit
Probably the biggest problem on all of the nation’s highways is drivers who travel at excessive speeds beyond the posted speed limit. The state of North Carolina sets speed limits based on specific criteria related to the section of the road, and drivers still exceed these limits regularly. Proof that a driver was speeding at the time of a mishap is common in accident cases, and it is vital evidence when car crash lawyers are pursuing whole maximum damages in an auto accident. Additionally, speeding evidence can also help establish total fault on the part of the defendant driver, which is necessary in successful North Carolina auto accident injury cases.
2. Distracted driving
Distracted driving is one of the primary causes of auto accidents, and it has especially increased during the past ten years now that cell phones are an absolute must for most people. While North Carolina does have laws against using the cell phone when driving, motorists still continue to do so. Subsequently, this results in many auto accidents.
3. Failure to yield right of way
Many accidents happen in North Carolina when a driver fails to yield when merging into traffic or turning across roadways. Many try this even knowing they are wrong because they are in a rush and think they can beat the oncoming vehicle across the intersection. The result is often T-bone accidents or head-on collisions that can easily result in death.
4. Disregarding traffic signals
Navigating North Carolina highways would be difficult without the use of traffic signals. They practically rule the flow of traffic on the road. The problem is that many drivers run yellow lights regularly and even red lights in some instances. While driving through a yellow signal is not illegal, it is best to stop before it turns red. Driving through a red light can establish total fault for any accident, which is a must in the state for financial recovery.
5. Failure to use turn indicators
Turn signals are one of the most important safety features of any vehicle. Drivers need to know what other drivers intend to do while on the road, and turn signals are that indicator. However, many people turn or change lanes while moving without signaling to other drivers that they are doing so. The result is often an accident, and evidence of failure to use blinkers can be significant in any car accident injury case with respect to fault.
All drivers in North Carolina should be conscious of what they are doing while behind the wheel of a vehicle and remember to follow the rules of the road in all situations. Driving defensively begins with observing all highway traffic laws. Car crash lawyers remind everyone in North Carolina that the state uses the contributory negligence law allowing defendants in accident injury cases to claim an exemption if the plaintiff was driving at the time of the accident and was even partially at fault when determining causation. Even 1% fault can end in a denied injury claim. Always follow all rules of the road to ensure an equitable injury settlement in the case of an auto accident.
