Getting into a car accident, even a minor one, is never fun. If you live in Louisiana, it may help to know what some of the common causes of crashes are so you can take precautions to prevent yourself from being a victim.

According to Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, an average of around 6.3 million accidents occur every year based on police reports, and an estimated 10 million accidents occur without any reporting. Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of accidents, and cellphone use is a big factor, especially in drivers in their teens and early 20s. Alcohol and drugs also contribute to a large number of crashes, and drunk driving contributes to 28% of driving-related fatalities. Driving over the speed limit causes around $40 billion in crash-related costs every year, and fatigue is also a big factor in accidents. Running a red light is also common.

The Huffington Post discusses other causes of vehicle accidents. Certain road and environmental conditions can lead to accidents. Rain causes low visibility and the roads to be slippery, and night driving makes it harder to see objects and line dividers. Sometimes crashes occur due to a vehicle flaw such as design defects or tire blowouts.

Driver error leads to a number of car accidents. Whether you go the wrong way on a one-way, forget to signal for a turn, or follow the car in front of you too closely, these are all risk factors. Even swerving to avoid a pothole can put you and other drivers in danger.

There are lower posted speeds in construction zones for a reason. Not only are people working in close proximity, but the setup can also be confusing, so it is important to drive slower to keep everyone safe.