Common Causes of Car Accidents in Colorado

Close to 4 million drivers get into traffic crashes every year in the U.S.¹ The following is a look at the some of the most common causes of these collisions.

Top 5 Causes of Auto Accidents in Colorado

The top causes of car wrecks in the state of Colorado are as follows:

1. Driver negligence – Far and away, driver negligence is the number one cause of car crashes in Colorado (as well as throughout the U.S.). In fact, federal research has shown that about 94 percent of all car accidents in the U.S. are primarily caused by human errors —negligent mistakes or misbehaviors by motorists.² Some of the most common types of driver errors that lead to car accidents include:
   • Impaired driving, including drunk or drugged driving, which can increase the risk of a crash by at least four times²
   • Distracted driving, which can impair drivers like alcohol does (by creating perception problems and delaying reaction times)
   • Fatigued driving, which tends to be a bigger issue for commercial drivers, especially those operating under tight deadlines
   • Aggressive driving, including tailgating, cutting off other motorists, and speeding
   • Careless or reckless driving, both of which essentially involve violating traffic safety laws
2. Other human factors or errors – While drivers are often responsible for causing car crashes, humans outside of vehicles can also act carelessly and end up causing traffic wrecks. For instance, mistakes or misconduct by bicyclists, pedestrians, or others sharing the roads with drivers can also lead to crashes.
3. Vehicle-related issues – Faulty, defective, or dangerous equipment on a vehicle can also cause accidents by malfunctioning and causing the car’s driver to lost control. For instance, faulty brakes and poorly manufactured tires can lead to brake failures and tire blowouts, both of which can cause serious car accidents. But sometimes even top-of-the-line equipment like crash avoidance systems malfunctions, sending vehicles off the road or into oncoming traffic. With these types of car accidents, the manufacturer of the defective part (and maybe the technician who installed it) can be responsible.
4. Roadway conditions – A lack of traffic signs, malfunctioning intersection signals, fading or missing lane markers, a lack of guardrails, etc., can all contribute to poor roadway conditions and car accidents. When this occurs, the party responsible for constructing and/or maintaining the road can be liable. Because the responsible party is often the government, short deadlines can apply to these types of cases.
5. Weather conditions – Heavy snowfall, freezing rain and other adverse weather conditions also commonly contribute to car crashes in Colorado.

Contact the Car Accident Lawyers at Dormer Harpring

If you have been hurt in a car crash, contact the Denver car accident lawyers at Dormer Harpring by calling (303) 747-4404 or by emailing us via the contact form on this page.

At Dormer Harpring, our attorneys are devoted to helping injured people and providing them with unique representation and support. With us on your side, you can count on receiving:

• Personalized legal services – Our lawyers are focused on personalizing their service to meet your specific needs and the unique circumstances of your case.
• Compassion – Our lawyers are not just about winning settlements. They care about your recovery and future.
• Effective representation – Our attorneys limit their caseloads so they can provide you with the highest quality representation at every phase of your case.

At Dormer Harpring, we’re committed to representing people from all walks of life, and we know not everyone can afford to pay hourly legal fees up-front. With that in mind, we never charge for a consultation, and we offer contingent fee contracts, meaning we charge our legal fees based only on the amount we recover.

From offices based in Denver, our personal injury attorneys provide exceptional representation to people throughout Aurora, Denver County, Adams County, Boulder County, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County, and the state of Colorado.

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1: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

2: According to a 2015 NHTSA Study