Many of the causes of car accidents are well-known. They include: Driving while distracted. Drivers in Battle Ground should never drive and text at the same time. If they need to use their cell phone, they should pull off to the side of the road where they can have a safe conversation. Drivers who eat, drink, look at a GPS system, play with the radio, or take their hands off the steering wheel and their eyes off the road for any reason are a danger to themselves and everyone around them. Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics. Drivers should never drink and drive or use drugs and drive. Using substances can cause the driver to lose control of his/her vehicle. Sadly, many drunk driving accidents cause death and catastrophic injuries. Traffic violations. The most common traffic violation that causes accidents is speeding. Drivers should avoid driving too fast, especially when it's snowing, raining, foggy, or too sunny. Traffic violation accidents also include running through stop signs and traffic lights, and many other violations of the rules of the road. Improper passing and merging. Cars should never pass unless the road markings make clear that it is OK to pass, and the traffic conditions make clear that there is enough safe distance to pass. Drivers must understand who has the right of way when cars merge and should communicate with each other to make sure the merge is done properly. Driver fatigue. A tired driver is a dangerous driver. Drivers making long journeys should take rest stops. They should get off the road if they need to sleep. Drinking coffee and opening the windows is not a sufficient response to driver fatigue. If you're tired, you need to get off the road. Defective auto parts. Manufacturers of cars or car parts have a duty to make sure that the cars and car parts are designed properly and are made with quality parts. Defective parts such as faulty fuel lines, faulty braking systems, and faulty steering wheels can easily cause an accident. Recently, there have been many court cases involving defective auto bags which have crushed the drivers and passengers that they were meant to protect.