What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car crash can have devastating effects. It can cause loss of income and benefits, substantial out-of-pocket expenses, and serious injuries that require extensive treatment.
If you're a victim of an auto
accident car lawyer or who's witnessing one, there are numerous ways you can ensure your safety and aid others.
Beware of Distractions
If you're distracted while driving, it can cause a huge impact on your safety as well as the safety of others. Food, texting, and grooming are among the most frequently-repeated distractions.
Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or even death to those near them. This is because distracted driving could cause drivers to disregard dangers and unexpected complications that are in front of them or miss important road warning signs.
Distractions could be anything that diverts a driver's attention from driving and can cause them to lose control. They can be either visual or cognitive, and each has their own distinctive characteristics.
Visual distractions can take a driver's eyes off the road,
lawyers for car accidents near me example, using a GPS or looking at the billboard, or even rubbernecking in an accident. This could be extremely dangerous particularly when the driver is traveling at highway speeds, or when they are walking or passing pedestrians.
Manual distractions are also dangerous, especially when drivers do not pay attention to the road or react quickly. Eating while driving is a huge distraction as can switching the radio station, or reaching for something behind the vehicle.
Cognitive distractions can be as dangerous as other distractions. They can be caused by using the phone or singing, or even thinking about a difficult situation. These are also signs of drowsiness which can make it difficult for a driver to remain focused on the road.
Set good boundaries and practice attentive drive to be aware of distractions while driving. This can be accomplished by living by example and setting rules that limit screen time.
It's important to remember that everyone is at risk for being a distracted driver and it's certainly not just teens or new drivers. Even pets, older drivers and drowsy motorists can cause distractions while driving.
If you know someone who is susceptible to distracted driving, make sure to speak with them about the importance of keeping their focus on the road, and how to stop this from happening. You can also suggest to your friend to switch off their mobile and put it on "do-not-disturb" mode while they are driving.
Staying Away
Maintaining an appropriate distance from the vehicle in the direction of you is one of the best ways to ensure your vehicle's safety. This will prevent the possibility of a collision, and also protect yourself and others around you from injury or death.
There are many ways to make sure that you're taking the right distance when driving. One way is to use the 3-second rule, which is a an easy calculation that will help you determine if you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based upon the fact that it takes approximately three seconds to react when a vehicle suddenly brakes. If you are too close to the car ahead of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is particularly true of truck drivers, who need ample space to safely brake when approaching the stop. Many accidents involving semis and large trucks occur due to drivers failing to follow this rule of the road, which can lead to serious injuries or even death for all involved.
You can also estimate the distance you need to follow a car by calculating the time it takes to reach a certain point after the vehicle at the front has passed by it. This can be done by watching the car in advance of an overhead sign, tree or other roadside marker.
Once you've determined the time it takes your car to reach that spot when the other vehicle passes it, begin counting again. You'll be counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 3,001 until you've reached the gap of three seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
If you're not able to get three seconds in one row, gradually increase the distance you're following until you can. It could mean slowing down in order to avoid a collision, but the extra effort is worth it.
The most frequent rear-end collisions occur when drivers are too close to the vehicle in front. You can avoid these collisions by increasing the distance you follow.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are amongst the most frequent types of car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account to nearly a third all accidents and cause around 2,000 deaths per year in the United States.
Although front-end collisions may be more fatal, rear end collisions can result in serious injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions may also cause soft-tissue injuries such as whiplash.
These injuries can cause severe discomfort in the back, neck and shoulder areas. They often require physical therapy, medical bills, and lost wages to heal from.
Keep your distance from other cars to avoid an accident. This means you must be following the vehicles at a safe speed and not to tailgate them.
You increase the chances of rear-end collisions by driving too close. This is due to the fact that you won't have enough time to react to dangers such as slower or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends that passenger cars maintain a three-second minimum distance of following distance and larger vehicles more.
When weather or road conditions are poor rear-end collisions are much more risky. When driving through heavy snow or rain, for example you should increase your following distance and take extra care.
Make sure to check your rear-view mirror frequently to avoid a rear end collision. This depends on how busy the traffic is in front of you. This will allow you to determine if a
car crash attorneys in front of you has reduced speed or applied the brakes.
Another good habit to adopt is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or leaving a parking lot. This lets the driver behind you to see your car and prevent them from swerving off the lane and strike you.
Always ensure that children are in the back of the vehicle when traveling with them. This will prevent them from bouncing about the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracting while you are driving.
It's also a good idea to put your phone away and not use it while driving. Talking or texting on the phone can be a major cause of rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine in your
car accident injury lawyers Near me is one of the most crucial parts for you as a driver, but it can be frustrating. In the case of an accident, you may notice that your car's engine will not start when you turn the key.
The issue isn't easy to fix or diagnose So you must bring your vehicle in as soon as the light comes on. The lights will inform you when there's a problem with the battery, alternator and temperature or other parts of your car that need attention.
If you're having trouble starting your car after a minor accident it could be because of a malfunctioning inertial switch that cuts power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This switch is designed to prevent your vehicle from burning in the case of a collision, however, it could also cause damage to your engine when it's tripped.
Another reason why you may not be able to start your engine after an accident is that the collision may have caused your vehicle's transmission to stop functioning properly. In this situation you'll need to consult a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and then fix it.
Even if you own an excellent car it is crucial to rev the engine every often to make sure that it is properly lubricated. This can be done by turning off the engine and letting it warm for 30 seconds or as long.
When you do this, you're gaining the opportunity to inspect all of your vehicle's hoses and belts, air cleaners and other components to make sure they're in good operating condition. This will improve your fuel efficiency and also ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly.
This is also a great way to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires will enable them to be more effective on the road and reduce the chance of a blowout, or any other damage.