Crash causes are boringly consistent — the same seven failures produce most collisions year after year in NHTSA data. For victims, each cause carries a liability fingerprint: the evidence it leaves and the fault it establishes.
- 1. Distraction — phones above all; texting leaves records, and records leave fault.
- 2. Speed — the force multiplier in every severity statistic; proven by reconstruction and data recorders.
- 3. Impairment — alcohol and drugs, with punitive exposure and dram shop claims attached.
- 4. Right-of-way violations — stop signs, signals, and turns across traffic.
- 5. Unsafe lane movement — changes without clearance and lane-discipline failures.
- 6. Following too closely — the engine of rear-end crashes and their presumption.
- 7. Fatigue and weather — drowsiness mimics impairment; weather demands adjusted speed, and ‘the rain did it’ is not a defense to driving too fast for conditions.
Scenario-by-scenario fault analysis lives in our fault-map companion; the evidence process in how fault gets determined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The other driver’s cause isn’t on this list. Does that matter?
The list covers the common, not the compensable — any negligent cause supports a claim. The evidence strategy just adapts to the failure.
Multiple causes contributed — speed and distraction together. How does that work?
Causes stack against the same driver, and comparative-fault percentages allocate when both drivers contributed. More causes usually mean more evidence, not more confusion.
What does hiring you cost?
No attorney’s fee unless we recover; the contingency percentage and cost handling are in the written fee agreement. Consultations are free.
Questions about your situation? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online — free, confidential consultations, contingency-fee representation.