The results of a recent study suggest that drivers in Alabama and around the country are at a high risk of being involved in traffic accidents when they take short trips on familiar roads. Analysts from an Austrian company that provides insurance companies with telematics services came to this conclusion after checking data gathered during more than 3 million trips taken by 40,000 motorists over a two-year period.
The first three minutes
The researchers paid particularly close attention to the car accidents that took place during 1,986 of the trips. When they focused on trips lasting under 10 minutes, they noticed that about 25% of the crashes occurred during the first three minutes of driving. A further 14% of the accidents took place during the next three minutes behind the wheel. Drivers were least likely to crash during trips lasting between 10 and 20 minutes.
Alternatives to driving
The data did not provide clues as to what may have caused the accidents, but one of the leading scientists behind the study speculated that people may be more likely to engage in risky behavior like using their cellphones while behind the wheel or driving while fatigued or after drinking if they are only taking short trips close to home. He also said that up to 40% of accidents could be prevented if alternatives to driving like cycling, walking or using public transportation became more popular.
Car accident lawsuits
Motor vehicle accidents harm hundreds of thousands of people in the United States each year, and most of them are caused by a human being who makes a mistake. Personal injury attorneys with experience in auto crash cases could pursue civil remedies on behalf of accident victims by filing lawsuits against the negligent drivers who caused the crash. This kind of litigation may seek compensation for their lost income, pain and suffering, medical bills and property damage.
