Car accidents are an unfortunate reality on Birmingham’s roads. While many are a frustrating inconvenience and unwelcome expense, many others are life-altering and deadly.
The vast majority of Birmingham car accidents are preventable. Speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving are some of the human behaviors that put drivers, passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians at risk.
If you or a close family member have been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages or income, pain and suffering, and more.
When looking at the most common causes of car accidents in Birmingham, the tragedy that almost every crash was preventable had the at-fault driver exercised a little more caution and concern for others’ safety.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Birmingham
Car accidents in Birmingham often result from speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving, including alcohol and drug use. Common risk areas include busy roads like I-65 and U.S. 280, intersections near UAB, and construction zones.
The Role of Human Error in Birmingham Car Accidents
Human error plays a part in nearly every car accident, whether it’s speeding, failing to yield, or simply being distracted. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that driver-related errors contribute to approximately 94% of all crashes in the U.S. The U.S. Office of Motor Vehicle Management estimates that human error is an even greater factor, putting the figure at 98%.
These figures underscore how critical driver behavior is to safe driving. In Birmingham, as with most cities, human error can transform a simple trip across town into a life-changing event, leading to injuries, property damage, and sometimes even fatalities.
In Alabama, more than 144,000 car accidents occurred in one recent year, resulting in nearly 38.000 injuries and more than 986 deaths. Car accidents occur at a rate of one every three minutes. A person is killed in an Alabama car accident about once every nine hours. For every death, 38.5 more people were injured.
Speeding
Speeding is a leading cause of severe accidents because it reduces a driver’s ability to respond quickly to sudden changes on the road. According to NHTSA, speeding contributed to nearly 29% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. in recent years.
In Birmingham, many drivers commonly speed on major routes like Interstate 65, Interstate 59 and U.S. Route 280. These roads are the site of several high-speed crashes each year.
Accidents caused by speeding are especially dangerous, as the impact force becomes greater each additional mile per hour of speed. High-speed crashes are usually more devastating, often leading to serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and fractures.
Distracted Driving
Despite tougher anti-distraction laws and the emergence of better crash-avoidance technology in modern vehicles, distracted driving remains a serious issue across the U.S., and Birmingham is no exception.
In June 2023, Alabama made it illegal for any driver to use handheld devices while driving, yet distracted driving crashes continue to rise. Fatalities associated with distracted driving have soared nearly 68% over a recent five-year period.
NHTSA highlights that distracted driving killed 3,308 people nationwide in a recent year alone. That number doesn’t include the number of people who suffer serious injuries every year because of a distracted driver. Many motorists and pedestrians struck by a distracted driver are left with catastrophic injuries that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Common distractions include texting, eating, and adjusting in-car systems, which divert the driver’s focus away from the road. Distracted drivers in Birmingham may be especially prone to causing accidents on busy stretches like University Boulevard, where traffic congestion demands full attention and on any interstate through town during busy rush hours.
According to Drive Safe Alabama, a texting driver has 23 times the risk of a crash than drivers who keep their phones out of their hands while driving.
Drunk Driving
Getting behind the wheel after drinking is a choice that can have devastating consequences, not only for the driver but for everyone sharing the road. Alabama has strict and specific blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) that apply to the general population, underage drinkers, and commercial truckers:
- Standard BAC: 0.08% for drivers 21 and older.
- Underage drivers: 0.02% BAC limit, considered “zero tolerance.”
- Commercial drivers: Lower limit of 0.04% BAC.
NHTSA reports that more than 13,000 people died in a recent year due to alcohol-impaired driving. That’s 37 lives needlessly lost every day.
In Birmingham, popular nightlife areas such as Five Points South can see an increased risk of drunk driving accidents, especially during late-night hours, leading to injuries such as broken bones, concussions, and internal injuries.
Impaired Driving (Drugs)
Driving under the influence of drugs—whether prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal—can turn a regular commute into a dangerous ordeal.
For those on Birmingham’s busy roads, encountering a drug-impaired driver often means facing erratic speeds, sudden lane changes, and unpredictable behavior, which can lead to life-altering collisions.
NHTSA notes that driver impairment isn’t limited to illegal drugs alone; even everyday medications can dull a driver’s motor skills and judgment, putting everyone at risk. In a city like Birmingham, where thousands of motorists and pedestrians share busy highways and urban streets, the dangers of drug-impaired driving are clear. Impaired drivers caused 6,751 crashes in Alabama in one recent year. Those crashes resulted in 197 deaths.
Drowsy Driving
Sleep-deprived driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. According to NHTSA, drowsy driving causes hundreds of fatal crashes every year due to effects similar to dunk and drug-impaired driving, including slowed reaction times and impaired decision-making.
People falling asleep at the wheel or with delayed reaction times because of fatigue caused thousands of crashes in one recent year that resulted in 700 deaths and many more injuries.
In Birmingham, drowsy driving accidents are more likely to occur on lengthy drives along I-65 and other highways. Long-haul truckers, delivery drivers like those working for Fed-Ex or UPS, and exhausted commuters are more prone to drifting out of their lanes, potentially leading to side-swipe or head-on collisions.
Rainy and Icy Weather
Birmingham’s changing weather poses driving challenges, especially during heavy rains or in wet winter weather when the roads become slick. While weather itself doesn’t cause accidents, drivers who fail to adapt their driving for rain or foggy conditions can easily cause collisions, including multi-car pileups. Snow and ice are relatively rare, but when they do occur, accident rates rise despite government and private shutdowns.
Speeding, following too closely, or making sudden lane changes on wet or slippery roads can lead to serious crashes. Some of the riskiest areas include curvy sections on Highway 78, where visibility and traction are often compromised.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving includes behaviors like weaving in and out of traffic, excessive speeding, and tailgating, all of which can endanger everyone on the road. Reckless drivers are a threat to other motorists, occasionally causing serious accidents on I-20, I-65, and I-459 or any high-speed highways.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving includes speeding, tailgating, and other behaviors fueled by road rage. Drivers displaying aggressive tendencies increase their chances of causing an accident and endangering other road users.
Tailgating
Following too closely or tailgating is dangerous because it reduces the reaction time needed to avoid rear-end collisions, the most common form of car accident. Tailgating is particularly problematic in high-traffic areas, where a single abrupt stop can lead to a chain-reaction accident. Birmingham’s busy stretches, like U.S. 280, see frequent rear-end accidents due to tailgating. Drivers and other car occupants who are rear-ended by a negligent driver often experience whiplash, neck pain, and back injuries.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Improper lane changes, including failure to signal or check blind spots, can easily lead to accidents. Birmingham’s multiple-lane highways and interstates are particularly risky for unsafe lane changes. These accidents often result in side-impact crashes, which can cause injuries to the chest, abdomen, and lower body.
Intersection Accidents
Intersections are common accident sites due to the volume of traffic and the potential for driver error. Failing to yield, running a red light, or turning without checking can lead to serious side-impact or T-bone collisions. Busy Birmingham intersections, like those along First Avenue North and near the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), see frequent traffic accidents.
Auto Defects
A vehicle’s design or a mechanical defect may contribute to an accident. Faulty brakes, defective tires, and steering assembly malfunctions can make a car uncontrollable. Electronic glitches or self-driving vehicle errors can also cause car accidents.
In some cases, a defective auto component, such as an airbag that fails to deploy or inflates with lethal force, can contribute to or cause a car accident death.
Manufacturers are liable for auto defects that injure or kill motorists, and a qualified car accident lawyer can help victims pursue compensation from the liable parties.
Failure to Yield
Failure to yield can have severe consequences, especially at intersections or when merging onto highways. This driver error, whether an oversight or intentional, isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it can lead to high-speed, side-impact collisions that place drivers, passengers, and even pedestrians in grave danger.
Birmingham’s busy I-459 and intersections throughout the city are common spots for these types of accidents, where a moment’s delay in yielding can turn a normal drive into a traumatic experience.
Poor Road Maintenance
Poorly maintained roads can feel like an obstacle course, putting drivers at risk through no fault of their own. Potholes, broken guardrails, and faded lane markings make navigating some of Birmingham’s streets unnecessarily dangerous. Even minor road bumps can lead to vehicle damage or injuries when least expected. Drivers often bear the cost, both financially and physically, as poor road upkeep creates conditions that make safe driving more difficult.
Wrong-Way Driving
Few driving mistakes are as frightening as wrong-way driving. When a driver accidentally enters a road or highway going the wrong direction, it can lead to a deadly head-on collision. Unfortunately, this scenario happens more often than one might expect on major highways around Birmingham. Wrong-way collisions on Birmingham highway exits and any other high-speed stretch can cause catastrophic head-on collisions.
Construction Zones
The Birmingham area is in a stage of constant growth, with the city limits melding into the surrounding communities of Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Trussville, Pelham, and Mountain Brook. Road and highway expansions accompany all the new development, with construction zones creating sudden lane shifts, narrow lanes, sudden slowdowns, and unexpected stops.
Drivers who aren’t paying attention or speeding through construction zones risk rear-ending another vehicle or colliding with equipment and workers.
Head-on collisions
Head-on collisions are among the most devastating types of car accidents. They often occur on Birmingham’s two-lane roads and highways, where only painted lines separate cars moving in opposite directions. Negligent drivers who improperly pass without sufficient visibility of oncoming traffic or clearance are a leading cause of head-on crashes. The result is often a violent impact that leaves motorists with severe, life-altering injuries.
Running Traffic Signs and Signals
Drivers who speed through a light or stop sign intentionally or because they weren’t paying attention put others directly in harm’s way. T-bone crashes and head-on collisions often occur when negligent drivers run traffic lights and signs, slamming into drivers who have the right of way.
Call TopDog Law to Connect with a Birmingham Car Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident in Birmingham, connecting with a qualified local lawyer could be one of the most important decisions you make for your future.
If you or a close family member were injured by a negligent driver, TopDog Law’s network of dedicated and experienced Birmingham car accident lawyers can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait another day to get the legal help you need. Call TopDog Law Personal Injury Lawyers today at (205) 539-0893 or fill out our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your car accident case.
