Common Causes of Car Accidents

Driving across East Texas brings risks you may not expect until a crash happens. Rural roads can be narrow. Traffic on busy routes often gets backed up. Long, straight stretches of highway also tempt drivers to push their speed. Our firm reviews accident trends to identify liability and help you see why certain conditions make collisions more likely.

Two-Lane Rural Roads and Speeding Risks

Two-lane roads that wind through East Texas carry dangers many drivers underestimate. When lanes are tight and visibility is limited, the chance of a head-on collision goes up. Passing on hills can be dangerous. Curves in the road add another challenge when there is no room to correct a mistake.

Your East Texas car accident attorney at Goff Law, PLLC can review reports to see whether speeding played a part in your crash. Witness accounts may also describe unsafe passing. Evidence from the scene can show how fast the vehicles were going and whether conditions contributed to the wreck. Looking at these details can explain why a collision occurred and help establish who was responsible for causing the wreck.

Drowsy and Distracted Driving on Long Stretches

Long stretches of East Texas highway can wear down even careful drivers. Hours behind the wheel make fatigue more likely. A drowsy driver may drift into another lane without realizing it. These highways also see drivers looking at their phones. Sending a text or checking directions can cause a crash when focus should stay on the road.

These risks grow worse because safe driving is hard to enforce across such a wide region. Troopers may not be nearby when a fatigued driver makes a mistake. Officers may also miss a distracted driver who glances at a screen instead of the road. For you, that means greater danger when sharing the highway with someone who is not paying attention. 

Weather Hazards and Poor Road Conditions

East Texas weather can change quickly, and those changes often make driving dangerous. Heavy rain reduces visibility and creates slick pavement. Flooded low-water crossings add another risk for drivers who are unprepared. Washed-out shoulders can also cause cars to lose control.

Potholes and poorly maintained roads can also contribute to serious wrecks. When a driver loses control after hitting a deep hole or swerving to avoid one, the results can be just as severe as driver error. If unsafe road conditions played a part in your crash, documenting those hazards is especially important.