“I hate to admit it, but I dented my trunk by backing up into a dumpster,” Stacey said. She was in an auto body repair shop near Middleboro, picking up her car. “But I guess that’s not why most people wind up here.”
In fact, colliding with a fixed object, such as a post, guardrail or dumpster, does make the top ten of common car accident causes in Massachusetts. What’s at the top of the list? Speeding. If you want to keep your car looking showroom perfect, it’s a good idea to slow down.
And you’ll want to maintain your focus. Distracted driving is now the second leading cause of car accidents – a phenomenon often attributed to the widespread use of cell phones.
After that, and particularly relevant at this time of year, comes bad weather. Winter weather is responsible for a significant number of car accidents, as drivers have difficulty navigating snowy or icy roads. Weather can be an issue throughout the year, however, as severe rainstorms, strong winds, tornadoes and other weather events happen.
The number four and five most common causes of car accidents are entirely preventable. Drunk driving and driver fatigue make the road a more dangerous place to be for everyone.
The remainder of the list has to do with specific driving situations, such as merging into traffic or tailgating. Young and inexperienced drivers are among the people most likely to have this type of accident, but they can happen to anyone.
Do you know what to do after you are in a car accident?
Being in a car accident is a startling, upsetting event. The first thing you need to do is to ensure you’re in a safe position and summon help. Law enforcement and first responders will help you deal with the accident to begin with. Once immediate concerns have been addressed, you will be asked where you’d like your car to be towed. This is your decision. The police officer on scene and your insurance company can not make this choice for you. You’ll want to find the best auto body repair near Middleboro to meet your needs. They will be able to help you secure a rental car so you can take care of business while your car is being repaired.