Common Negligence Examples in Pennsylvania Car Accidents

What Is Negligence in a Pennsylvania Car Accident?

Negligence is the legal foundation of virtually every Pennsylvania car accident claim. A driver is negligent when they fail to exercise the reasonable care that a prudent person would use under the same circumstances — and that failure causes injury to another person. The practical question in most cases is: what did the other driver do wrong? Here are the most common forms of driver negligence that lead to serious accidents on Erie-area roads.

Speeding

Exceeding the posted speed limit — or traveling too fast for road, weather, or traffic conditions even at or below the limit — is one of the most common causes of serious accidents. Higher speeds reduce the time a driver has to react, increase stopping distance, and dramatically worsen the severity of impact. On Erie’s highways and local roads, speed-related negligence is a frequent issue in accident claims.

Running Red Lights and Stop Signs

Failure to obey traffic control signals is a leading cause of intersection accidents, which often involve violent T-bone or broadside collisions at the full speed of the traveling vehicle. These accidents frequently result in serious injury because the struck vehicle’s side — which offers less structural protection than the front — absorbs the full force of the impact.

Distracted Driving

Using a smartphone while driving — texting, scrolling, or talking without a hands-free device — is illegal in Pennsylvania and one of the leading causes of preventable accidents. Other forms of distraction include eating, adjusting the radio or GPS, and attending to passengers. A distracted driver who takes their eyes off the road for just two seconds at highway speed travels nearly the length of a football field without looking.

Drunk or Impaired Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only criminal — it is a significant form of civil negligence. An impaired driver’s judgment, reaction time, and ability to perceive hazards are severely compromised. In many cases, DUI-related negligence supports a claim for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.

Failure to Yield

Pulling out of a driveway without checking, turning left in front of oncoming traffic, or failing to yield at a merge are all common forms of negligence that cause serious accidents. Pennsylvania traffic law establishes clear right-of-way rules, and a driver who violates them and causes a crash generally bears significant fault.

Tailgating

Following another vehicle too closely reduces the driver’s reaction time and stopping distance. Rear-end collisions — which are among the most common accident types — frequently result from tailgating, and the following driver is presumptively at fault in most rear-end collision scenarios under Pennsylvania law.

If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver in Erie, contact Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C. for a free consultation.