North Carolina Car Accidents Can Occur Because of Lane Drifting

July 24, 2009, by Michael A. DeMayo

According to the National Safety Commission, lane drifting is a form of careless driving that can cause motor vehicle collisions. Lane drifting is the cause of about 10,000 US traffic fatalities a year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines lane drifting as when a motor vehicle is moving in a generally straight direction but at a slight angle to the lane that it is in. When a driver waits too long to correct his or her course or doesn’t make the correction at all, his or her vehicle may end up drifting into the next lane or in front of ongoing traffic, causing a sideswipe crash or a head-on collision.

Common Causes of Lane Drifting:

• Drowsy driving
• Distracted driving
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Drunk driving
• Drugged driving
• Overmedicated while driving
• Speeding
• Talking on the cell phone while driving
• Texting while driving
• Daydreaming
• Failing to pay attention to the road

Aside from making sure that your vehicle doesn’t drift into another lane, other ways to prevent North Carolina car accidents include:

• Always pay attention the road.
• Stay out of other driver’s blind spots.
• Check your blind spots for vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, or pedestrians.
• Drive with both hands on the wheel.
• Make sure your car is properly maintained and defect-free.

North Carolina car accidents can lead to serious injuries. To make sure that you receive all the personal injury recovery that you are owed, you should speak with an experienced Charlotte, North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that you are aware of your legal options. Make sure that you write down everything you remember about your North Carolina car collision and don’t talk to the other side’s representation until you’ve spoken with your legal representation first.

Careless Driving Tickets: Lane Drifting – How Sideswipe Crashes Occur, July 21, 2009

Top 10 Editors’ Tips to Prevent a Car Accident, Edmunds.com