What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident can result in devastating consequences. It can result in a loss of income, benefits, and significant expenses out of pocket.
If you're a victim in an auto accident or a bystander who's watching one, there are a variety of ways you can keep yourself safe and help others.
Avoid Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it can have a dramatic impact on your safety and that of others. Texting, eating, and grooming are just a few of the most common distractions.
If distracted drivers are involved in an accident, it can result in grave injuries and death for the people near them. Drivers who are distracted could disregard road signs and hazards or fail to notice unexpected issues.
Distractions are any activity that diverts a driver's attention away from the road and causes them to lose control of their vehicle. They can be visual or cognitive, and each comes with its own unique characteristics.
Visual distractions can distract drivers' attention from the road, for example, using a GPS, looking at a billboard or rubbernecking into an accident. This can be dangerous particularly when the driver is driving at highway speeds, and passing pedestrians or other vehicles.
Manual distractions can be harmful, especially when drivers aren't paying attention to the road and are unable to react quickly enough. Driving while eating can be very distracting as can switching the radio station or looking for something behind the car.
Cognitive distractions are not as obvious but equally deadly type of distractions. They can be caused by talking on the phone or singing, or even thinking about a stressful situation. They can also be a sign of drowsiness, which could make it difficult lawyers for car accident near me drivers to concentrate on the road.
The best way to avoid distracting behaviors while driving is to establish good boundaries and practice attentive driving. This can be accomplished by living by example and establishing rules to restrict the amount of time you spend on your screen.
It is important to remember that driving distracted is a risk for everyone, not just teens and new drivers. Older drivers, sleepy drivers and even pets can be potential distractions while driving.
If you have a friend or relative who is susceptible to distracted driving, make sure to talk with them about the importance of keeping their focus to the road and how to avoid this happening. You can also suggest to your friend to turn off their phone and set it on "do-not-disturb" mode while they drive.
Keep Your Distance
Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you is one of the best attorney for car accident near me actions you can take to ensure your car's safety. This can help avoid collisions, and also protect yourself and others near you from injury and death.
There are many ways to make sure that you're taking the right distance when driving. One option is to utilize the 3-second rule. It's a an easy calculation that can assist you in determining whether you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on fact that it takes approximately three seconds to react when another car accident injury Attorneys (imoodle.win) brakes abruptly. If you're too close to the vehicle in the front of you and you're not close enough, you won't have enough time to stop safely before a collision occurs.
This is particularly true for truck drivers, who require plenty of space to safely brake when they are approaching the stop. This road safety rule is often not observed by drivers, resulting in serious injuries and even fatalities.
You can also determine the distance you have to follow a vehicle by calculating the time it takes to get to a specific location after the vehicle in the front has passed it. This can be accomplished by watching the car crash lawyers in advance as it passes an overhead sign, tree or any other roadside marker.
Recount. Once you've determined how long it will take you to arrive at that location after a car has passed, start counting. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 3-1,000 until reach a three-second gap between you and the car ahead.
If you're unable to achieve three seconds, then increase your following distance gradually until you are there. It could mean slowing down in order to avoid a collision, but the effort worth it.
The most common rear-end collisions occur when drivers follow the vehicle in front of them too closely. By increasing your following distance and using the 3-second rule, you can avoid these crashes and other collisions that can cause serious damage to your vehicle and those surrounding you.
Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are among the most frequent auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that they account for more than a third of all crashes and result in approximately 2,000 deaths per year in the United States.
While front-end collisions can be more fatal, rear end collisions can result in serious injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions may also lead to a variety of soft-tissue injuries, including whiplash.
These injuries could cause drivers to be afflicted with severe discomfort and pain in their back, shoulder and neck areas. They often require physical therapy, medical bills, and lost wages to recover from.
The best way to avoid rear-end collisions is to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. This means that you must follow behind them at a safe pace and not be a tailgater.
Being too fast can increase the chance of a rear-end collision because you will not have enough time to notice and react to potential hazards, such as slower or stopped traffic ahead of you. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum of three seconds of follow-through for passenger cars, and even more for larger vehicles.
Rear-end collisions can be extremely risky when the road or weather conditions are threatening. If you're driving through snow or heavy rain, for example, increase your distance to follow.
To avoid a rear-end collision, check your rear-view mirror frequently, depending on how congested the traffic is ahead of you. This will allow you to identify if the driver in front of you has stopped or applied the brakes.
Use your turn signals to change lanes or pull out of a parking lot. This will assist the driver behind you see your vehicle and stop them from swerving in their path to hit you.
Always ensure that your children are in the back of the vehicle while traveling with them. This will stop them from bouncing about the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracted while driving.
It is an excellent idea to avoid using your phone while you are driving and not use it to distract yourself. Talking or texting on your phone can be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.
Making sure your engine is running
The engine in your car is one of the most crucial components for you as a motorist however, it can also be frustrating. In the case of an accident, you might find that the engine of your car won't start when you turn the key.
This isn't a problem that's easy to diagnose and solve, so it's best to take your vehicle to a mechanic at the moment the check engine light comes on. The lights will alert you if there's a problem with the battery, alternator or temperature, or any other part of your car that require attention.
If you're having trouble getting your car started after a minor accident it could be because of a malfunctioning inertial switch that shuts off power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This switch is intended to prevent your car from burning in the event of a collision, but can also damage your engine if it's tripped.
Another reason you might not be capable of starting your engine after an accident is that the collision could have caused your vehicle's transmission to stop working properly. In this case, you'll need to seek the help of a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and fix it before you start your vehicle once more.
Even if your vehicle has an engine that is in good condition however, it's important to check it out once the course of time to ensure it's lubricated and working properly. This can be done by turning off the engine and letting it warm for about 30 minutes or more.
When you do this, you're taking an opportunity to inspect all your vehicle's belts, hoses air cleaners, and other components to ensure that they are in good working order. This will help improve your gas mileage and ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly.
It's also a great method to make sure your tires have the correct pressure. If your tires are properly inflated, they will ensure that they can grip the road better and lessen the risk of a tire blowout or any other damage.