North Carolina motorists who are involved in a fatal collision may also face charges of driving recklessly, license violations or driving under the influence. According to a study by High Rise Financial, from 2012 to 2021, these were the most common charges for drivers in the aftermath of fatal auto accidents.
Reasons for auto accidents
Motor vehicle accidents can happen for a number of different reasons, including manufacturers’ defects, poor road conditions or a fatigued driver. However, examining data from the National Highway Traffic Administration demonstrates that there are certain behaviors that are particularly associated with deadly crashes.
Breakdown by state
The study further broke down these crashes by state. For example, Colorado motorists had the highest percentage rate of being charged with reckless driving. The largest percentage of people charged with driving after their license had been withdrawn was in New Hampshire. In Nevada, the highest percentage of motorists faced charges related to driving under the influence.
Other charges
Other charges related to fatal crashes included speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road. Drivers were also guilty of violations related to turning and observing traffic signs.
Taking safety precautions
When reviewing this kind of information, drivers should keep in mind that is not always easy to determine the cause of an accident based on legal charges. For example, a person might have been driving recklessly or swerved into another lane because they fell asleep at the wheel or were distracted by an argument they were having with someone else in the vehicle. It is important for drivers to remember that even a momentary lack of attention to the road can lead to serious consequences. For this reason, they should drive carefully and defensively even if they do not think of themselves as reckless drivers.
