In North Carolina, the most common causes of car accidents include distracted driving, texting while driving, speeding, driving under the influence, and reckless or aggressive driving. Data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation shows that 23.1 percent of fatal accidents were caused by speeding, 22.4 percent by alcohol and 7.8 percent by distracted driving.
Lane Departure
In 2023, 1,686 people were killed and 115,009 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents in North Carolina. As a leading cause of unintentional injuries and deaths, it is important to understand the most common causes behind car accidents in the state.
Unsafe lane departures were responsible for the highest percentage of car accidents reported in 2023 (21.4 percent; 60,725 accidents). Lane departure accidents can occur when a driver does not change lanes correctly or legally, fails to use a turn signal, gets over on top of another driver, crosses the centerline, or recklessly weaves in and out of multiple lanes.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving was responsible for causing 16.9 percent of all car accidents in North Carolina. The most prevalent type of driver distraction is cell phone use. Texting, emailing, taking pictures or videos, and otherwise using a handheld mobile device while driving is incredibly dangerous, as it takes the driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and thoughts off the driving task.
Speeding
Speeding was the cause of just 5.3 percent of accidents in 2023 (15,139 collisions). However, it was disproportionately responsible for almost one-fourth of fatal collisions (23.1 percent). This is because the act of speeding is dangerous and increases the severity of any accidents caused. “Speeding” can mean exceeding posted speed limits as well as driving too fast for conditions.
Reckless Driving
According to North Carolina law, reckless driving means to drive a vehicle “carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others.” This can refer to excessive speeding, drag racing, running red lights and stop signs, tailgating, unsafe passing, driving the wrong way, and aggressive driving behaviors.
Alcohol Use
In 2023, alcohol use was behind 12,146 reported car accidents in North Carolina. Like speeding, driving under the influence causes a disproportionate number of fatalities compared to the number of collisions (22.4 percent vs. 4.3 percent, respectively). This is because drunk drivers commit dangerous acts behind the wheel that lead to high-speed collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents and other serious types of crashes.
How Is Liability Determined in a Car Accident Case in North Carolina?
North Carolina is a fault-based car insurance state. When someone causes a car crash, he or she is held responsible for paying for it. It is necessary to determine who is liable or at fault for your collision before you can file a car insurance claim.
An investigation will be done to look into who or what caused the crash. Evidence will need to be gathered against the accused driver, such as a police report, criminal conviction, witness statements, photos and videos, or cell phone records. An experienced car accident lawyer in Wilmington can help you build a claim and pursue fair compensation from a negligent or reckless driver in North Carolina.