What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident can have devastating consequences. It could result in loss of income and benefits, substantial out-of-pocket expense, and even severe injuries that require a long-term treatment.
If you're the victim of an auto accident or who's witnessing one, there are many ways you can protect yourself and help others.
Avoid Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it can have a dramatic impact on your safety as well as that of others. The most frequent distractions include eating, texting and grooming.
Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or death to the people near them. This is due to distracted driving that can cause drivers to disregard dangers and unexpected problems in front of them or to ignore important road warning signs.
Distractions may be anything that distracts a driver's attention from the road which causes them to lose control. They can be either visual or cognitive, and each comes with distinct characteristics.
Visual distractions are the things that distract drivers' eyes from the road, such as using a GPS or looking at a billboard, or rubbernecking during an accident. This can be very dangerous particularly when the driver is travelling at highway speeds or when they are traveling by other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can also be extremely harmful, particularly when drivers are not paying attention to the road ahead and fail to react quickly enough. Eating while driving is a huge distraction or even changing the radio station or looking for something behind the car.
Cognitive distractions can be just as harmful as other distractions. They could be a result of talking on the phone and singing, as well as thinking about a personal issue. They can also be signs of drowsiness. This can make it difficult for drivers to concentrate on the road.
The best way to stay clear of distracting driving habits is to set boundaries and practice attentive driving. You can accomplish this by setting rules and leading by example.
It's important to remember that everyone is at risk for being a distracted driver and it's not just teenagers or new drivers. Even pets, older people and drivers who are tired could be distractions while driving.
You can also ask them to set their cell phone on "do not disturb" mode and then turn it off when they are behind the wheel. It is also a good idea to encourage them to put their mobile phone on "do not distract" mode and turn off the device when they're behind the wheel.
Keep Your Distance
One of the most important actions you can take to ensure your top rated car accident attorney is safe when driving is to keep an appropriate distance between you and any vehicle in front of you. This will prevent a collision and shield your passengers and yourself from injury or even death.
There are many ways to make sure that you're taking the correct distance when driving. You can apply the 3-second formula to determine if you are following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on the fact that you require about three seconds to react if another vehicle brakes suddenly. If you're too close to the vehicle in the front of you, you won't have enough time to stop safely in case a collision happens.
This is particularly the case for truck drivers, who require plenty of space to stop safely before approaching a traffic stop. This rule of the road is often neglected by drivers, resulting in serious injuries, and sometimes fatalities.
You can also estimate the distance you have to follow a vehicle by calculating the amount of time it takes to reach a fixed location after the vehicle in the front has passed it. This can be accomplished by watching the car in advance of an overhead sign, tree or any other roadside markers.
Once you've established how long it takes for your vehicle to get there after the other car passes it, continue counting. Begin 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 not able to get three seconds in one row then gradually increase your distance to follow until you reach. It could require slowing down to avoid the risk of crashing but it's worth the effort.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow the vehicle in front of them too closely. By increasing your following distance and utilizing the 3-second rule, you will be able to avoid these collisions and other collisions that can cause severe damage to your vehicle and those surrounding you.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are amongst the most frequent types of auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account for more than a third of all crashes and cause the death of 2,000 people each year in the United States.
While front-end collisions are much more deadly, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can lead to a myriad of soft-tissue injuries, including whiplash.
These accidents can cause drivers to suffer severe discomfort and pain in their back, shoulder and neck areas. They usually require physical therapy, medical bills and lost wages to recover from.
Keep your distance from other vehicles to avoid an accident. This means that you must follow the vehicles at a safe speed and not lag behind them.
Driving too fast could increase your risk of a rear-end collision as you won't have enough time to notice and react to potential hazards, such as slower or stopped traffic in the area in front of you. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum of three seconds of following distance for passenger cars, and more for larger vehicles.
When the weather or road conditions are poor rear-end collisions are much more risky. When driving in severe rain or snow, for example you must increase your following distance and use extra care.
Be sure to check your rear view mirror regularly to avoid a rear end collision. This will depend on the volume of the road ahead of you. This will allow you to determine whether the driver behind you is accelerating or applying the brakes.
Another good practice is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or getting out of a parking lot. This helps the driver behind you to see your car and help prevent them from swerving out of their lane in order to hit you.
Keep children in the back of the car when you are traveling with them. This will keep children from running around the vehicle, or becoming confused and distracted while you are driving.
It is an excellent idea to keep your phone away while driving and refrain from using it to distract you. Disturbing conversations on the phone or texting can cause rear-end collisions.
Maintaining Your Engine
The engine in your vehicle could be one of the most crucial components for you as a driver, however it could also be one of the most frustrating parts. In the event of an accident, you might find that your car wreck lawyers near me's engine will not start when you turn the key.
This isn't a issue that's simple to spot and fix, so it's best lawyer for a car accident to take your vehicle to a service center as soon as the check engine light turns on. The lights will indicate the car if it has an issue in the area of battery temperature, temperature alternator or in any other area.
If you're having trouble starting your car accident injury attorneys collision lawyers near me - visit this hyperlink, after an accident that was minor it could be because of a tripped inertial switch which shuts off power to your vehicle's fuel pump. This switch is designed to keep your car from catching fire in the event of a collision however, it could also cause damage to your engine when 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 car's transmission to stop working properly. In this situation you'll need to consult a mechanic to determine what caused the problem and then fix it.
Even if you have an engine that is in good condition is still necessary to check it out once a while to make sure that it's lubricated properly and is working. This can be achieved by turning the engine on slowly and allow it to warm for 30 seconds.
You can use this time to examine all belts, hoses and cleaners in your vehicle to ensure they are working properly. This will improve your fuel efficiency and also ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly.
This is also a great way to ensure your tires are inflated properly. Properly inflated tires will enable them to be more effective on the road and lower the risk of a tire blowout or other damage.