Do More Car Accidents Happen At Night?
- January 30, 2020
- Sandy
LOS ANGELES — The human eye relies on light in order to see, and at night our vision suffers. It can affect our ability to judge distance and speed when we’re in the car. We depend heavily on our sight to help us make quick driving maneuvers and situational decisions while on the road. Darkness combined with bright car headlights and roadside lamps add to our struggle to process what we’re seeing while driving.
A car accident lawyer in Los Angeles says this is why night time can be a dangerous time to drive, and we should take additional precautions when on the highway after dark.
Do More Car Accidents Happen At Night?
Nighttime driving is not when the most car accidents occur, but that’s only half of the story. Just because more accidents happen during day time doesn’t mean driving at night is safer. Here’s why:
More than 40% of all fatal car crashes happen after the sun has set. This is a jarring statistic seeing as though there’s 60% less traffic on the roads. That means that your risk of getting in an accident is much higher at night.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also assessed contributing factors that increase the risk of a severe or fatal accident while driving at night. Safety belt usage was significantly lower at night due to related activities like:
- Drunken driving
- Speeding
- Drowsy/Sleepy driving
With the NHTSA finding that speeding accounts for 30% of all car accident fatalities, a whopping 54% of those collisions occurred at night and had alcohol involved. In addition to this data, another troubling statistic shared by this governmental agency was that two-thirds of crash death victims hadn’t worn a seat belt.
The takeaway from this study is that even though there’s less traffic on the roads, nearly half of America’s fatal collisions happen at night. A car accident lawyer in Los Angeles says Californians in particular struggle with seat belt safety at night, noting that NHTSA’s report showed that nearly 48% of passengers who died in a car accident didn’t buckle up, and 55% of them were driving at night.
Nighttime Driving Safety Tips
With so many potential dangers on the road in the evening, it’s important to take your safety seriously and remain aware of any road conditions or other drivers that may pose a risk. By avoiding an accident, you could potentially prevent a lifetime of injuries or wrongful death experience.
Consider some of the following tips to help you stay safe when traveling along LA’s streets and freeways at night:
Leave Stopping Distance
A common reason for collisions is the lack of stopping distance. It’s important to determine how far away you are from the vehicle ahead of you according to the illumination provided by your headlights. Typically, low beams create a visual area of up to 160 feet away, where high beams illuminate up to 500 feet to see ahead. If you have to make a sudden or hard stop, leave enough distance based on those distances.
Dim Interior Lighting
At night, everything is dark around you, so a bright dashboard can impair how well you see the road ahead. Keep your environment consistent and dim down the lighting in your car.
Maintain a Clean View
A dirty windshield can create a lot of glare from passing car headlights and nearly blind you. By keeping the glass clean and clear, you will experience less glare and have a better view of the road.
No Distractions While Driving
Driving at night already comes with visual difficulties and sensitivity to sudden light out of the blackness around you. This causes you to have a slower reaction time if a deer suddenly pops onto the road or another car rides both lanes around a curve. Keep yourself focused on the street and the environment around you at all times, especially after dark.
Los Angeles Car Accident Attorney
If you’re the victim of a nighttime auto collision, choosing a dedicated law firm to represent you throughout the claims process is vital to secure a reasonable settlement for your injuries. Accidents leave families devastated from the loss of a loved one to extensive medical care and expenses that the big insurance companies often refuse to pay. Hiring a legal team that’s demonstrated a successful case history will help you to focus on healing while they handle the complexities of a personal injury suit.
The Barnes Firm has proudly worked with clients all across the country to reach agreements with insurance companies that will provide for future care, repay out of pocket expenses and cover property damage.
You deserve the best care available and The Barnes Firm can help you through this challenging time in your life. Their car accident lawyers in Los Angeles don’t charge any fees until they’ve recovered financial compensation for your and your family. Their team’s membership with the Million Dollar Advocates Forum establishes their ability to bring successful claims to trial. Learn more about how their seasoned car accident attorneys in LA can help you by contacting us today.
The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000
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