What is the difference in meaning between a crash and an accident
By Pyle Law, March 15 2024 4:05 pmWhen filing a personal injury claim, the words crash or accident can significantly impact its outcome. Here are the technical meanings of the two terms:
An insurance company may use the word “accident” because it implies the incident occurred unintentionally, meaning it was nobody’s fault. This can take the attention away from the insurer’s policyholder. Even so, most accidents occur due to someone’s fault.
A “crash” means that someone’s negligent action contributed to the accident and they should be liable for the damages sustained by an injured victim. In a casual conversation, many people refer to crashes and accidents interchangeably, regardless of the cause.
However, “crash” or “collision” are the terms to use when talking to an insurance adjuster or presenting to a jury since the incident occurred due to someone else’s fault. Similarly, when you’re at fault for an accident, careful use of the term “accident” may help your claim. Better yet, allow your car accident attorney to handle all insurance communications, so you do not have to worry about such distinctions.
According to NHTSA, in a recent year, 13,384 people died due to drunk-driving accidents, an increase from 11,718 deaths the prior year. In addition, 31% of crash fatalities in the United States involved drivers with BACs of .08 g/dL and above. Generally, alcohol impedes the function of the brain through impaired thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination, which are vital in operating a vehicle safely.
When a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above 0.8 (g/dl), the crash risk increases exponentially. However, even low levels of intoxication may affect your driving ability.
When the BAC is 0.08 and above, the following aspects become impeded:
Consequently, it causes problems with concentration, speed control, impaired perception, and inability to process information.
Distracted driving is any activity that takes away the driver’s attention from driving, which increases the chances of a crash. There are three main types of distracted driving: looking away from the road, taking your hands off the wheel, or taking your mind off the road.
Typical forms of distracted driving include:
Researchers from the CDC suggest that sending or reading a text while driving at 55 mph is like driving across a football field with your eyes closed. While younger drivers might be more likely to use their phones while driving, distracted driving is a problem for drivers of all ages.
Driver fatigue is a substantial cause of accidents involving tired, drowsy, or sleepy drivers. Fatigue is a considerable cause of accidents since drivers cannot perceive, react, and respond to road hazards.
A tired driver has difficulty perceiving and processing information. For instance, a tired driver may not realize they drifted into the wrong lane until they almost collide with an oncoming vehicle.
Factors that contribute to driver fatigue include:
Traffic laws require drivers to yield to the right of way in specific circumstances to prevent foreseeable harm to others. The refusal to give way often results in catastrophic injuries and fatalities, especially when accidents occur at high speeds.
Common causes of failure to yield accidents include:
A vehicle owner must maintain their car or truck in good working condition for the safety of drivers and other road users. Poorly serviced brakes, tires, suspension, or engine maintenance contribute to car accidents. When a car owner fails to maintain a car, malfunctions are the fault of the owner. However, when a car part arrives defective, the fault lies with the manufacturer.
