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The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents In Alaska

Posted by Anthony Banker | Mar 25, 2019 | 0 Comments

The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents In Alaska

The most common causes of car accidents are related to distracted driving. Any activity that diverts the driver's attention is distracted driving. At least one Alaska judge has ruled that it can justify an award of punitive damages.

  • Distracted Driving
  • Failure of Due Care in Poor Weather
  • Drunk Driving
  • Reckless Driving

1. Distracted Driving in Alaska 

Any activity that diverts the driver's attention from driving is distracted driving. At least one Alaska judge has ruled that it can justify an award of punitive damages.

This could be talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting while driving is a crime in Alaska – and for good reason. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for at least 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

The NHTSA reports that texting while driving was responsible for at least 3,450 US deaths in 2016. It is estimated that over half a million people were seriously injured last year in crashes caused by texting.

You cannot drive safely unless driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity is a distraction and severely increases your risk of crashing.

2. Failure of Due Care in Poor Weather Conditions

Snow, rain, sleet, ice – All of these conditions require drivers to be more cautious. Sometimes people become so comfortable driving in bad conditions, that they start taking chances. As the winter season progresses many drivers start to follow too closely, and forget to slow down as they approach intersections.

No matter how comfortable we are with bad weather driving, we still need to be careful. The law requires us all to use reasonable care to avoid collisions.

Weather is not the cause of car accidents. Failure to use ordinary care causes crashes in bad weather.  

Drivers expect one another to take extra care when the weather is bad. It's our basic responsibility to one another.

3. Drunk Driving or Impaired Driving

There is no difference between drunk driving, impaired driving, buzzed driving, or driving while stoned. There is no excuse for drunk or buzzed driving. Drivers who do this are putting themselves, and the rest of us, at risk.

Impaired driving leads to car accidents, and car crashes, because the driver has slower reactions, has difficulty judging speed and distances, and makes poor decisions.  

Drunk driving is a serious offense in Alaska. First offenders spend time in jail, pay fines and penalties, and lose their license. Penalties increase significantly for repeat offenders.

4. Reckless Driving in Alaska 

While traffic laws were created for a reason, many drivers disregard them. Whether it is speeding, not yielding, making illegal turns or passing without signaling, any time a driver disregards traffic laws, they put all other drivers at risk.

Reckless driving is a serious problem across the country, including Alaska. Whenever traffic laws are being ignored, the possibility of a car accident, or even death, increases. The more motorists on the road who are disregarding the laws, the more dangerous the roadways become.

Contact Banker Law Group, PC Today 

If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver and would like legal advice on handling your claim – contact Banker Law Group at (907) 222-2999 and get an appointment with an experienced Anchorage attorney. There is no charge for an initial consultation.

About the Author

Anthony Banker

Bio Anthony Banker is a trial lawyer who devotes his practice to helping people who have been injured or exploited. Over the past 20 years, he has litigated several hundred cases involving negligence, maritime injuries, wrongful death, product liability, insurance bad faith, professional liabili...

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