Practice Areas
- Car Accidents & Injuries
- Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Uninsured Motorist Claims
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Insurance Claim Denials
- Construction Accidents & Injuries
- Virginia Workers Compensation
- Nursing Home & Assisted Living Abuse
- Wrongful Death
Blog 
Car Accidents & Injuries
- Car accident alert: is your infant safe?
- The Top 5 Causes of Virginia Traffic Accidents
- How is Virginia’s transportation budget battle going to affect you?
- Motorcyclist pays the ultimate price on the GW Parkway
- Do laws banning cell phone use while driving really work?
- The US Government decides to further investigate Jeep Liberty defect
- Rollover risks – how safe is your SUV?
- Car Accident Deaths Increase Starting At Age 12
- New car seat rating system launched
- So long, abusive driving fees!
Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Causes of Large Truck Crashes
- Is your life at risk from a medically unfit driver?
- Distracted Tractor-Trailer Driver Takes Two Lives
Drunk Driving Accidents
- The Effect of Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws and Drunk Driving Accidents
- Getting high-risk drunk drivers off the road
- Back road drunks – beware!
- Two drunk drivers slam into construction equipment, kill worker
Motorcycle Accidents
Insurance Claim Denials
Virginia Workers Compensation
Nursing Home & Assisted Living Abuse
Wrongful Death
General
- New Virginia DUI Law Takes Effect January 1, 2008
- Mandatory arbitration – good for business, bad for you
- Is your car watching you?
- Have you talked to your teenage driver about auto safety?
Firm News
- Car Crash Kills One and Injuries Four Other Victims
- Study Finds that 13% of Seniors are Mistreated
- Five Teens Died in Car Accidents during National Teen Driver Safety Week
- Settlement in Wrongful Death Case Reached
- Accidents on Va. 151
- Henrico Car Crash Kills Driver
- Fairfax County Police Worried About Motorcycle Traffic
- Virginia State Police Trooper Continues to Recover From Drunk Driving Accident
- Drivers With Prior DWI Convictions Pose Greatest Risk of Fatal Crashes
- Woman Dies In Weekend Motorcycle Crash
Library
Car Accidents & Injuries
- 8 Things You Should do After a Car Accident
- Focus on Infants: Is Your Child Passenger Safe?
- The Top 5 Causes of Traffic Accidents by Age Group
Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Study Examines Causes of Large Truck Accidents
- Are Medically Unfit Bus and Truck Drivers Endangering Your Life?
- The Deadly Facts about Tractor Trailer Accidents
Drunk Driving Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents and Minimum Legal Drinking Age
- The Problem of High-Risk Drunk Drivers in Fatal Crashes
- How Would Lowering the Drinking Age Affect Teen Drivers?
Uninsured Motorist Claims
Motorcycle Accidents
- Are Gas Prices Affecting Motorcycle Safety?
- Are Motorcycles Getting Deadlier?
- Motorcyclists – How to Protect Yourself on the Road
Insurance Claim Denials
- Car Insurance Claim Denials
- Help! My Insurance Claim was Denied!
- Are You Really in Good Hands with Allstate?
Construction Accidents & Injuries
Virginia Workers Compensation
Nursing Home & Assisted Living Abuse
Wrongful Death
General
The Top 5 Causes of Traffic Accidents by Age Group
Traffic accidents are a major issue for Virginia, especially considering that last year the number of crash related deaths topped the 1,000 mark – the highest number in a decade. There is no one single reason for the increase in accident fatalities, however some people have blamed the increasing popularity of cell-phones and other handheld devices, more impatient drivers who are traveling too fast or driving recklessly, or distracted drivers who do pretty much anything but focus on the road.
One interesting way to break down the traffic accident statistics is to look at the top causes of crashes by age group.
Young Drivers – Top 5 Crash Reasons
Younger drivers age 15 to 20 – typically those new to driving – are prone to making “novice” mistakes. They often misjudge how close they should be driving to another car, how fast they should be traveling for road structure and conditions, and they can be easily distracted by gadgets and passengers. The top 5 reasons that young drivers cause crashes are:
- Following Too Close – 5,903 (39%)
- Fail to Yield – 4,436 (29%)
- Speed Too Fast – 2,162 (14%)
- Driver Distraction – 1,426 (9%)
- Ran Traffic Control – 1,241 (8%)
Adult Drivers – Top 5 Crash Reasons
Adult drivers (age 21 to 65) should be seasoned drivers who have enough experience to make better decisions than their youthful counterparts, and still in possession of all their faculties – which can be a challenge for older drivers. However, what’s surprising is that the top reasons for accidents are very similar to those for young drivers:
- Following Too Close – 22,115 (42%)
- Fail to Yield – 15,328 (29%)
- Speed Too Fast – 5,055 (10%)
- Ran Traffic Control – 5,023 (10%)
- Driver Distraction – 4,994 (10%)
Mature Drivers – Top 5 Crash Reasons
Mature drivers, those over 65 years of age, can face special challenges. As drivers get older, they may experience gradual problems with depth perception, judgment, reaction time, and more. It is in this group of drivers where we see some different top reasons for accidents:
- Fail to Yield – 3,035 (47%)
- Following Too Close – 1,533 (24%)
- Ran Traffic Control – 780 (12%)
- Improper Lane Change – 593 (9%)
- Improper Turn – 468 (7%)
If you or someone you love is unfortunate enough to be involved in a car accident, then we want to hear from you. Please contact the Northern Virginia law offices of Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas today and let us work with you to secure the justice and compensation that you deserve.
DULANEY, LAUER & THOMAS, LLP
Warrenton Office
98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Toll Free: 888.907.2631
Local: 540.349.2631
Culpeper Office
209 N. West Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
Toll Free: 800.741.1012
Local: 540.825.6046
Free Case Evaluation
Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas, LLP
98 Alexandria Pike
Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: 888-907-2631
DULANEY, LAUER &
THOMAS, LLP
Warrenton Office
98 Alexandria Pike
Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Toll Free: 888.907.2631
Local: 540.349.2631
Get Directions
Culpeper Office
209 N. West Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
Toll Free: 800.741.1012
Local: 540.825.6046
Get Directions
Our Attorneys
Resources
- Car Accidents & Injuries
- Tractor Trailer Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Insurance Claim Denials
- Virginia Workers Compensation
- Nursing Home & Assisted Living Abuse
- Wrongful Death
- General
FAQ
Car Accidents & Injuries
- Why hire a lawyer? Can't I just resolve this matter with the insurance company on my own?
- Does an injury case require an attorney who "specializes" in personal injury law?
- If I hire an attorney will that prolong the resolution of my case or guarantee that it goes to trial?
Uninsured Motorist Claims
- I was injured by a "hit and run" driver who fled the scene and whose identity is unknown. Do I have a case? Against whom?
- My auto insurance policy has "uninsured motorist" coverage. What is this?
Insurance Claim Denials
Construction Accidents & Injuries
- I was struck by a bulldozer while working on a construction site and seriously injured my leg. Who is liable?
- Will pursuing a lawsuit for a construction accident injury jeopardize my rights to workers compensation?