What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident can be a traumatic event. It can lead to 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 numerous things you can do to ensure your safety and assist others.
Beware of Distractions
If you’re distracted while driving, it can be a major risk to your safety as well as the safety of others. Eating, texting, or grooming are some of the most common distractions.
Distracted drivers could cause serious injuries or death to the people who are around them. Drivers who are distracted may ignore road signs and hazards or miss out on unexpected dangers.
Distractions are anything 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 has distinct characteristics.
Visual distractions are things that distract drivers from the road. Examples include using a GPS or looking at a signboard, or rubbernecking in a car accident And injury lawyers accident. This could be very dangerous especially when the driver is driving at highway speeds or they are passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions are also dangerous, particularly if drivers aren’t paying attention to the road or react quickly. Food while driving is a huge distraction or even changing the radio station or looking for something behind the vehicle.
Cognitive distractions are a lesser-known but equally dangerous category of distractions. These distractions can include calling or singing or thinking about an emotionally charged scenario. They can also be signs of drowsiness that can make it difficult for drivers to concentrate on the road.
The best way to avoid distracting driving habits is to establish good boundaries and practice attentive driving. You can do this by establishing rules and leading by example.
It is important to remember that distracted driving is danger for everyone not just teenagers and drivers who are new. Older people, drivers who are drowsy and even pets can all be distractions for drivers.
If you know someone who is susceptible to distraction while driving, make sure to talk with them about the importance of keeping their eyes on the road, and how to prevent this from happening. You can also advise them to put their mobile phone on “do not distract” mode and then turn off the phone when they are driving.
Beware of Your Distance
One of the most important things you can do to keep your car injury attorneys near me safe while driving is to maintain a safe distance between yourself and any vehicle that is ahead of you. This can help prevent a collision and protect yourself and others who are around you from injury or death.
There are numerous ways to make sure you’re following the correct distance. You can use the 3-second calculation to determine if you’re following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based upon the fact that it takes approximately three seconds for you to react when a vehicle brakes suddenly. If you’re too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have enough time to stop safely before a collision occurs.
This is particularly true for truck drivers who require plenty of room to safely stop when approaching an intersection. Many accidents involving semis or large rigs happen because drivers fail to observe this road rule which can cause grave injuries or even deaths for all involved.
You can also measure the distance you must follow a vehicle by measuring the time it takes you to reach a particular point after the vehicle in the front has passed it. You can do this by looking for an overhead road sign, a tree, or any other roadside marker, and watching the car in front of you drive by it.
Repeat the count. Once you’ve determined how long it will take your vehicle to arrive at that location after another driver has passed, begin counting. Count 1-1,000, 2-1,000, and then 3-1,000 until get to a three-second gap between you and the car accident and injury lawyers ahead.
If you’re not able to get three seconds in one row then gradually increase the distance you’re following until you can. This could require you to slow down to avoid a collision, but the extra effort is worth it.
The most frequent rear-end collisions occur when drivers follow the vehicle in front of them too closely. By increasing the distance you follow and utilizing the 3-second rule, you can avoid these collisions as well as other collisions that could cause serious damage to your car and the people surrounding you.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are among the most common auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account to 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 less dangerous, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause for injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can also cause 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 usually require physical therapy, medical costs and lost wages in order to recover.
The best method to avoid a rear-end collision is to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. This means that you must be following the vehicles at a safe speed and not to tailgate them.
Driving too closely can increase your risk of a rear-end collision since you won’t have enough time to see and respond to dangers, such as slower or stopped traffic the front of you. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum of three seconds of follow-through for passenger cars, and greater for larger vehicles.
If the weather or road conditions are not ideal rear-end collisions are more dangerous. If you’re driving in extreme snow or rain, for example you should extend the distance you follow and take extra precautions.
To avoid a rear-end collision, make sure you check your rear-view mirror regularly, depending on how congested the traffic is in front of you. This will allow you to determine whether the car crash attorneys near me in front of you is accelerating or applying the brakes.
Use your turn signals to switch lanes or pull out of a lot. This helps the driver behind you to see your car and aid in stopping them from swerving off the lane and hit you.
Always keep children in the back of the car while traveling with them. This will prevent them from bouncing about the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracted while driving.
It is also a great idea to put your phone away and not use it while driving. Talking or texting on the phone could be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.
Keeping Your Engine Running
The engine of your vehicle could be one of the most important elements for you as a driver, however it can also be among the most frustrating components. In the event of an accident you may discover that your car’s engine will not start when you turn the key.
The issue isn’t simple to determine or fix, so you should take your vehicle to the mechanic as soon as the light is on. The lights will indicate if your car has a problem in the areas of temperature, battery, alternator, or any other aspect.
If you’re having trouble getting your car crash attorneys near me 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 is intended to safeguard your car from lighting on fire in the event of an accident however it can also cause damage to your engine should it be tripped.
Another reason why you may not be able to start your engine after an auto accident is that the collision could have caused your car collision lawyers near me‘s transmission to stop functioning properly. In this scenario you’ll have to talk to a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and fix it.
Even if your car has an engine that’s in good shape is still necessary to check it out once intervals to ensure it’s properly lubricated and running. This can be done by turning off the engine and letting it warm up for about 30 minutes or as long.
When you do this, you’re taking an opportunity to inspect all of your vehicle’s hoses, belts, air cleaners, and other components to ensure that they are in good operating condition. This will increase your gas mileage and help keep your vehicle running smoothly.
This is also a great technique to ensure your tires are inflated properly. If your tires are properly inflated, they will ensure that they can grip the road better and decrease the chance of an accident involving a blowout of your tire or other damage.