Roadside accidents are a common occurrence on Alabama’s roads. In fact, statistics show that in 2020, there were approximately 130,000 car crashes in Alabama, resulting in more than 55,000 injuries and 586 fatalities. But what causes these accidents? And how can we mitigate them? Today, we’re going to dig into the science behind truck and car accidents in Alabama. 
Accident investigations are complex processes involving multiple disciplines. They often rely on the principles of physics to determine factors like speed, direction, and impact force at the time of the accident. Investigators also study the physical evidence left behind, such as skid marks, vehicle damage, and the final resting positions of the vehicles involved.
One of the leading causes of accidents is distracted driving, which was a factor in over 25% of car crashes in Alabama in 2020. Distracted driving refers to any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating, talking to people in your vehicle, or fiddling with the stereo.
Speeding is another major contributor to accidents. Higher speeds increase the stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger, and they also increase the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to the danger. These two distances together make up the total stopping distance. At higher speeds, this distance is greater and can result in more severe accidents. In evaluating vehicle accident litigation, our personal injury attorneys regularly consider whether someone was speeding or not since it can be a significant factor in such cases.
Education and technology play crucial roles in mitigating these factors. So do defensive driving courses. Defensive driving courses educate drivers about safe driving strategies, emphasizing anticipating potentially dangerous situations.
New technologies, such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control, have been shown to reduce the rate of accidents significantly.
For instance, let’s look at automatic emergency braking (AEB). AEB systems use radar, cameras, and other sensors to detect potential collisions. If the driver fails to respond in time, the system applies the brakes automatically, reducing the severity of the crash or avoiding it altogether.
The science behind car and trucking accidents in Alabama centers around understanding the actions, reactions, and circumstances that lead to these unfortunate incidents. By leveraging education and advances in technology, we can work towards reducing their frequency and severity. Remember, while we can’t control the actions of other drivers, we can control our driving habits. Stay alert, drive defensively, and embrace new technologies to keep Alabama’s roads safer for everyone.
Attorney Steven A. Harris regularly blogs in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, and real estate closings on this website. He is always available in any of the firm’s offices or by phone anytime for a consultation. Mr. Harris tries to provide informative information to the public in easily digestible formats. Hopefully you enjoyed this article and feel free to supply any feedback. We appreciate our readers and love to hear from you!