Even on a pleasant commute to complete weekly household errands, a driver faces danger due to those around them. No matter if a collision occurs on a crowded city street or a fast-moving highway, catastrophic injuries can occur. Due to the speeds involved and the force of the collision, serious crashes can result in the deaths of drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike.

While every situation is different, certain scenarios can lead to fatal motor vehicle collisions, including:

• Distracted driving: Unfortunately, many drivers become accustomed to multi-tasking while behind the wheel. Whether this is making a phone call or eating a snack, any activity that pulls even a small percentage of attention from the road can lead to severe collisions. Distracted drivers might speed through intersections, drift into oncoming lanes or fail to recognize stopped traffic causing a devastating crash.
• Excessive speed: Drivers who are under emotional stress, late for work or simply distracted can lose track of their speed. These fast-moving vehicles can collide with such force that fatalities are often the result.
• Impaired driving: Drivers who get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs, alcohol or strong prescription medications will likely see their skills diminished. Unfortunately, this can lead to head-on collisions, rear-end collisions or T-bone collisions in the middle of an intersection. Drivers who are impaired are more likely to miss safety signals and fail to recognize stopped traffic leading to a severe collision.
• Emotional driving: Drivers often discount the impact emotions can have on their control of the vehicle. Job stress, family trouble or a relationship in turmoil can all cause a driver to speed, drive recklessly or react angrily to road conditions. Unfortunately, these reactions can lead to a serious collision resulting in vehicle occupant fatalities.

Depending on any number of factors, a motor vehicle collision can result in catastrophic injuries. From brain damage to paralysis, crashes can impact the entire family. When the wreck involves a fatality, however, it is crucial that the surviving loved ones explore the possibility of a wrongful death claim. While the legal process cannot alleviate grief, it can hold the responsible driver accountable for their actions and provide some financial comfort for the future.