Car accidents are an all-too-common thing to occur in the United States. Some of these accidents are relatively uneventful, aside from a scare and damage to your vehicle, while others are more extreme, ranging from injuries sustained by yourself and/or others, to something a lot more tragic: fatalities. Which makes sense, considering that people are in multiple-ton vehicles, going at incredibly high speeds. But one question you might have is this: what is the leading cause of car accidents, both fatal and otherwise?

Determining the leading cause of fatal car accidents in the US

There are a number of different causes of fatal car accidents, some more common than others. While we could go over the entirety of the causes, the whole gamut (we could, given the time), we do have a limited number of words to work with. As such, we are going to check out only the five most common examples, just to keep it efficient and focused. What you do need to realize is just how often a fatal car accident in the United States can be the result of negligence, though at the same time, some fatal car accidents can truly be no one's fault at all, just an unfortunate act of God that could not be anticipated, such as a freak weather incident that catches people off guard. But before we look at these reasons, the best way to avoid a fatal car accident is to make sure that you are following the rules of the road. Keep one car length for every 10 miles per hour you are driving just in case something happens to you or the car in front of you, ensuring that you and others have adequate time to react. Also make sure that you have your car in good shape - that you have both side-view mirrors in working order and properly aligned to view people coming up on your left and right. Finally, make sure that you always wear your seatbelt. It is not only the law in many places that everyone in a vehicle must wear a seatbelt, but it is also just a good idea. All right, let's get started and look at the five most common causes of a fatal car accident.

Speeding is another obviously dangerous thing to be doing while driving, mainly because every extra mile makes it more difficult than the last to keep your car under control. It is perhaps understandable why people decide to speed; after all, a lot of people are often in a hurry to get to where they need to go, given how much our society pressures people to be on-time and do more. However, that doesn't change how dangerous it is. People also may do it with the belief that it uses less gas, but that is actually not true; the faster you go, the more gas you burn. One thing that often causes people to speed is actually one of our examples: driving while under the influence. Whether it is alcohol, controlled drugs, or even prescription medication, the consumption of these substances modifies your reaction time and inhibitions, putting you more at risk of being a danger to yourself and others. And while not related to speeding necessarily, being too sleepy can prove a major threat. If you feel that you may fall asleep at the wheel, absolutely take care to rest, as you do not want this to be your last drive. Though, sometimes the reason why you get into a car accident is relatively out of your control, mainly due to weather conditions. Whether it is rainy or snowy, both of these conditions can create a serious risk.

When all is said and done, the most dangerous thing you can be doing while driving is... well, basically anything that is not to do with keeping your mind on the road, to be honest. This includes fiddling with the radio, eating, drinking, rubbernecking, grooming (i.e. shaving while you are driving), these are all among the most common things people do before they encounter a fatal car accident, but the most common cause of distracted driving is when people are too distracted by their phones. It doesn't matter if someone is talking on the phone or texting, both are going to put you at an increased risk of a fatality. However, it must be said that texting is probably the most dangerous. Also, take care to not be taking selfies while you are driving, tempting though it may be. Selfies are a lot of fun, to be sure, but you should never be taking them in an irresponsible manner. And of course, there are going to be times when you simply have to do certain things, particularly eating and drinking. Drinking is a little less avoidable, since you are advised to drink at least once per hour, but with eating, the best advice we can give is to park some place and eat your food instead of eating it while you drive, especially if it is something messy that can take your mind off of the road.