Not only do motor vehicle collisions often result in significant property damage, depending on the severity of the collision, vehicle occupants can suffer serious injuries. There are countless factors that can cause the crash and increase the severity of the consequences.
Drivers in Hawaii must often navigate crowded city streets and narrow, winding roads through dramatic weather patterns and other hazards. Unfortunately, while weather, road damage and vehicle defects are all significant factors, numerous other scenarios can lead to a devastating collision, including:
- Reckless driving: While there is a legal definition, the term reckless driving covers a broad range of actions. Some motorists are reckless due to their driving habits. They speed, make erratic lane changes and drive through intersections without waiting for traffic to clear.
- Impaired driving: Certain factors can influence a driver’s abilities behind the wheel. Whether the impairment stems from the use of alcohol, drugs or prescription medication, these substances can all dramatically impact perceptions, reaction time and cognition leading to severe collisions.
- Distracted driving: It is a problem that will not go away. Numerous activities tempt even the staunchest drivers to multitask while behind the wheel. These tasks can include texting, personal grooming, reading, manipulating an audio system and eating. Unfortunately, these activities all pull a driver’s focus from the road and can potentially lead to a serious collision.
- Tourist drivers: Hawaii is a vacation destination for millions of people each year. Many of these individuals end up renting vehicles to go on sight-seeing tours. Unfortunately, these drivers might not be familiar directions, locations, local roads or local trouble-spots. While well-meaning, vacationers can make errors while behind the wheel that lead to serious collisions.
Depending on numerous factors, motor vehicle collisions can result in devastating property damage and catastrophic injuries. Vehicle occupants are likely to struggle with brain damage, spinal cord trauma, burn injuries and crush injuries. In serious collisions, drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike could ultimately be killed. This can lead to emotional turmoil and financial peril for the surviving family.