What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident could be a devastating incident. It can result in a loss of income, benefits and significant out-of-pocket expenses.
If you're a victim in an auto accident or a bystander who is witnessing one, there are numerous actions you can take to protect yourself and help others.
Beware of Distractions
Distracted driving can have a significant impact on your safety and that of other drivers. Texting, eating, and grooming are some of the most common distractions.
Distracted drivers could cause serious injuries or death to the people near them. This is because distracted driving may cause drivers to miss dangers and unexpected complications that are right in front of them, or to overlook important road signs.
Distractions are any activity that diverts the driver's attention from the road and causes them to lose control of their vehicle. They can be visual as well as cognitive, manual or both and each type is unique in its own way.
Visual distractions can be anything that distract a driver's focus from the road. Examples include using a GPS or reading a signboard or rubbernecking an accident. This could be risky particularly when a driver is driving at highway speeds and is passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can be dangerous, particularly if drivers don't pay attention to the road or fail to react quickly. While driving, eating is a huge distraction as can switching the radio station or looking to something behind the car.
Cognitive distractions are a lesser-known but equally dangerous category of distractions. They can include using the phone, singing or thinking about an emotional situation. They can also be indications of drowsiness, which can make it hard for drivers to stay focused on the road.
Set boundaries and practice attentive driving to keep your eyes off the road. You can accomplish this by setting rules and living by example.
It's important to be aware that everyone is at risk for being a distracted driver, and it's not only teens or new drivers. Even pets, older people and drowsy motorists are all distractions while driving.
You can also ask them to put their phone on "do not disturb" mode and turn it off when they are behind the wheel. You can also suggest to your friend to switch off their phone and set it on "do-not-disturb" mode while they are driving.
Keep Your Distance
One of the most important ways to ensure your car injury attorneys is safe when driving is to keep an appropriate distance between you and any vehicle in front of you. This will help avoid an accident and protect your passengers and yourself from injury or even death.
There are a variety of ways to make sure that you're taking the right distance when driving. You can make use of the 3-second calculation to determine if you are following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based upon the fact that you require around three seconds to react when a vehicle suddenly brakes. If you're too close to the vehicle in the front of you, you won't have enough time to stop in a safe manner before a collision occurs.
This is particularly the case for truck drivers, who require plenty space to stop safely when they approach a traffic stop. Many accidents involving semis and big rigs happen because drivers fail to follow this rule of the road, which can lead to serious injuries, or even death for everyone involved.
In addition to using the three-second rule, you may also determine your distance to follow by locating an object fixed in the ground and calculating how long it takes you to reach the same point after the vehicle ahead of you passes it. This can be accomplished by watching the car injury lawyers near me in advance pass an overhead sign, a tree or other roadside markers.
Recount. Once you've decided how long it will take for your car to reach that location after a car has passed, start counting. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 3-1,000 until have a gap of three seconds between you and the car in front.
If you're not able to get three seconds in one row, gradually increase the distance you're following until you get there. It could require slowing down to avoid a crash but it's definitely worth the effort.
The most common rear-end collisions occur when drivers follow too closely the vehicle in front. You can avoid collisions by increasing your following distance.
Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions comprise among 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 the death of 2,000 people each year in the United States.
While front-end collisions are more hazardous, rear-end collisions still cause significant injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can lead to a variety of soft-tissue injuries, such as whiplash.
These injuries can cause drivers to suffer severe discomfort and pain in the back, shoulder and neck areas. These injuries are often accompanied by physical therapy, medical expenses and lost wages in order to heal.
The best method to avoid a rear-end collision is to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. This means following behind them at an appropriate speed, and not slowing down.
You could increase the risk of rear-end collisions when driving too close. This is because you won't be able to have enough time to react to potential hazards such as slow or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum of three seconds of following distance for vehicles that are primarily passenger vehicles, and more for larger vehicles.
When road or weather conditions are hazardous rear-end collisions are more risky. If you're driving through snow or heavy rain, for instance, you may need to increase your following distance.
Make sure to check your rear-view mirror frequently to avoid a rear end collision. This will depend on how full the road ahead of you. This will let you know if the driver behind you is slowing down or applying the brakes.
Use your turn signals to change lanes or get away from a lot. This will help the driver in front of you see your vehicle and prevent them from swerving into their vehicle to avoid hitting you.
If you are traveling in a vehicle with children, you must make sure you keep them in the back of the vehicle. This will prevent them from running around the vehicle, or becoming disoriented and distracting while you are driving.
It is recommended to not use your phone while you are driving and refrain from using it to distract yourself. Talking or texting on the phone can be a key contributor to rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine in your car is among the most vital components for you as a driver, but it can be a hassle. If you are involved in an auto accident, your vehicle's engine may not start immediately after you turn the key or press START.
This isn't a issue that's easy to diagnose and resolve, so it's advisable to bring your car in for a checkup immediately after the check engine light comes on. The lights will notify you that there's an issue with the alternator, battery or temperature, or any other part of your vehicle that require attention.
If you're having trouble starting your car crash attorneys following an accident that was minor it could be because of a tripped inertial switch that shuts off power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This is designed to prevent your Car wreck attorney near me - demilked.com - from lighting on fire in the event of a collision however, it could also cause damage to your engine if shut off.
Another reason you might not be not able to start your car following an accident is that the collision could have caused your vehicle's transmission to cease functioning properly. In this situation you'll need to consult a mechanic in order to find out what caused the issue and fix it.
Even if your vehicle has an engine that's healthy is still necessary to run it every once in every so often to ensure it's well-lubricated and functioning properly. This can be accomplished by gently turning on the engine and letting it warm for 30 minutes or as long.
When you do this, you're taking an opportunity to examine all of your vehicle's belts, hoses, air cleaners and other components to ensure they are in good working order. This will improve your gas mileage and ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly.
It's also a great way to make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Properly inflated tires will enable them to take on the road more effectively and reduce the risk of a blowout, or any other damage.