Driving is a very freeing experience. It allows you to go long distances and unwind from the stresses of the day. It can also be very dangerous since you are going to be driving a multi-ton piece of metal at very high speeds. If you have an accident, whether it's colliding with a wall or another multi-ton car, then the results can be horrific. That's why people have to have driving lessons and pass tests to be able to get a license to do this. But despite this, accidents do happen. According to Bankrate, August is the most dangerous month of the summer months for driving. There were 285 fatalities that month out of 2,738 total accidents. What causes car accidents? Here are 10 of the most common reasons people get into a collision.

1. Driving While Distracted

Technology has made it very easy for people to communicate with each other. Smartphones allow you to text or talk with people wherever you are. The problem is, a lot of people talk while they are on the road. This distracts them, so they aren't paying attention to what's going on in front of them. If the car ahead of them comes to a sudden stop, they will lose precious milliseconds of reaction time, and it can result in an accident that requires significant car body repairs.

If you need to talk on the phone, you can pair your phone with your car's Bluetooth. Many new models allow that. You can also see texts on the dashboard display. If your car doesn't have that, then you can at least put the phone on speaker while you drive. The best thing, though, is to wait until you've gotten home to look at texts or make phone calls.

2. Following Cars Too Closely

This is otherwise known as tailgating. Don't drive right behind another person's bumper. That creates very unsafe conditions, and they might be tempted to "brake check" you by stopping short. It's important to leave a safe amount of space between cars. That way, if something happens, such as them having to suddenly stop, you will be able to have enough reaction time to be able to correct your own course of driving.

3. Not Yielding to Right of Way

There are specific rules of the road about who gets to turn when traffic is going both ways. This is known as the right of way. You need to pay attention to who has that right of way, otherwise, you risk driving right into them as you turn. That can then lead to the need for extensive car body repairs. You also need to observe that the other driver has recognized that you have the right of way and be prepared to stop if they cut you off.

4. Not Changing Lanes in a Safe Way

It's important for drivers to signal when they are about to change lanes. That will alert the other drivers around them about what they are going to do. If they don't, it can catch the others off guard, and they may not be able to brake accordingly. Always signal which direction you are turning and then follow through with the turn. Don't leave a turn signal going for too long. It can cause confusion and confusion can lead to accidents.

5. Not Looking When Backing Up

Far too often, drivers rely on others noticing them as they back up. This leads to them just backing out without any warning. As a result, other drivers might not have time to stop, and they end up in a fender bender. Always exercise caution when it comes to backing out. Use the rearview mirror and the rear camera as much as possible to gauge whether it's a safe time to do it.

6. Not Passing Safely

Part of driving is knowing how to pass people on the road. Too many people don't do that, or they do it far too haphazardly. Know where the passing lanes are and signal when you're changing lanes. You want to keep a safe speed and give the other car plenty of room before changing lanes to get in front of them. Otherwise, you risk having a bad car accident.

7. Driving Too Fast

Many people are guilty of driving a bit over the speed limit at times, but going more than five miles over is dangerous. Especially when others are on the road, you never want to drive at a reckless speed or weave in and out of traffic. It causes other drivers to be stressed and behave erratically, which can lead to an overall dangerous situation. As a result, an innocent driver could actually wind up causing an accident, not the person that's speeding. Make conditions safe for everyone and don't speed — otherwise, you could need extensive car body repairs.

8. Driving While Inexperienced

Yes, the only way for people to learn how to drive is to do it. As they get more experienced, they will get better at knowing how their car will handle certain situations. The problem is, a lot of inexperienced drivers may overestimate their abilities and put themselves into scenarios that they can't handle yet, such as driving on a highway during rush hour. That sudden adjustment from moderate speeds to high speeds can be overwhelming for some. That can cause them to not be able to react in time if something happens, like skidding.

The best way to combat this is to spend time truly mastering driving in easier conditions before moving on to faster ones. When you do that, then you will give yourself the best chance of being able to prevent any accidents that will require car body repairs.

9. Not Paying Attention to Traffic Signals

Traffic signals aren't suggestions. They're there to regulate the flow of traffic. That's why it's important to pay attention to everything while driving. Don't zone out and then belatedly realize that the upcoming signal is, indeed, red. That can lead to a hasty attempt to stop, which may lead to a collision. You can avoid that by always being aware of what's coming up or knowing what traffic signals are in your area and reacting accordingly.

10. Driving Drunk

This is one of the most significant causes of car accidents. Alcohol causes a crucial reduction in people's reaction time. That means a split-second incident can result in not hitting the brakes fast enough if another vehicle suddenly enters the picture. This is especially deadly at high speeds. This is why the law is very harsh on incidents like these, and people who are convicted can face significant jail time. These accidents can be devastating to cars, too. You will most likely need car body repairs after a drunk driving accident — whether you were the one drinking or not.

Car accidents happen for many reasons. The above are some of the most significant, but there are a lot of other ways they can occur. If you've been in an accident, you need to take your car to a place that has people experienced with car body repairs. We have those people. Contact City Side Auto Body today for an estimate!