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What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident could be a devastating event. It can result in the loss of income and benefits, massive out-of-pocket expense, and even severe injuries which require extensive treatment.
Whether auto accident lawyers 're the victim of an auto accident or a bystander who is witnessing one, there are numerous actions you can take to keep yourself safe and help others.
Avoiding Distractions
If you're distracted while driving, it can have a dramatic impact on your safety and the safety of others. Food, texting, and grooming are among the most common distractions.
If distracted drivers are involved in an accident, it can result in serious injuries and deaths for the people in their vicinity. Drivers who are distracted might ignore road signs or hazards or miss out on unexpected dangers.
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 manual and each type has its own unique characteristics.
Visual distractions refer to things that divert a driver's attention from the road. Examples include using a GPS or looking at a signboard, or even rubbernecking a car accident. This can be dangerous particularly when a 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 ahead and fail to react quickly enough. While driving, eating, changing the radio station, and reaching for something in the back of the car can be very distracting.
Cognitive distractions can be as harmful as other distractions. They can be caused by calling 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 driving to avoid distractions while driving. You can do this by establishing rules and following by example.
It's important to remember that distracted driving poses a risk for all drivers not just teenagers and drivers who are new. Older people, drivers who are drowsy and even pets could all be potential distractions while driving.
If you have a loved one who is prone to distracted driving, make sure to talk with them about the importance of keeping their attention to the road and how to avoid this happening. You can also encourage your friend to turn off their phone and put it on "do-not-disturb" mode while they drive.
Beware of Your Distance
One of the most important actions you can take to ensure the safety of your vehicle when driving is to keep a safe distance between yourself and any vehicle in front of you. This can help prevent the possibility of a collision, and also protect the people around you from injury or death.
There are many methods to ensure you're traveling at the right distance. One method is to apply the 3-second rule. It's an easy calculation that will aid in determining if you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on the fact that it takes around three seconds to respond when a vehicle suddenly brakes. If you are too close to the vehicle ahead of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is especially true of truck drivers, who require plenty of space to safely brake when they are approaching an end. This road safety rule is often ignored by drivers, which can result in serious injuries, and sometimes deaths.
In addition to the three-second rule you can also measure your distance to follow by locating a fixed object and counting how long it takes for you to get to the same location after the vehicle in front of you passes it. You can do this by finding an overhead road sign, tree or any other roadside marker, and watching the vehicle in front of you drive by it.
Continue counting. Once you've determined the time it will take your car to get to that spot after another car has passed, begin counting. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000, and then 3-1,000 until you've reached three seconds of gap between you and the car ahead of you.
If you're unable to complete three seconds in a row slowly increase your distance to follow until you get there. It could require slowing down to avoid the risk of crashing but it's worth the extra effort.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow the vehicle ahead of them too closely. You can avoid these collisions by extending your following distance.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions comprise among the most frequent types of car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that they account for about three-quarters of all crashes and cause about 2,000 deaths every year in the United States.
Although front-end collisions are far more deadly, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions may also lead to a myriad of soft-tissue injuries, such as whiplash.
These accidents can leave drivers with significant 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 method to avoid a rear-end collision is to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. This means that you must follow them at a safe speed and not tailgate them.
Driving too fast could increase the likelihood of a rear-end collision because you won't have enough time to be able to recognize and react to potential hazards, such as slow or stopped traffic the front of you. The National Safety Council recommends that passengers maintain a three second minimum distance of following distance, and larger vehicles even more.
When road or weather conditions are bad rear-end collisions can be more dangerous. If you're driving through heavy snow or rain, for instance, you may need to increase your following distance.
You should regularly check your rear-view mirror to avoid a rear end collision. This will depend on how crowded the road ahead of you. This will allow you to determine if a driver behind you has been slowing down or has applied the brakes.
Another good habit to have is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or pulling out of parking lots. This helps the driver behind you understand your vehicle and prevent them from swerving out of their lane to cause a collision with you.
If you are traveling in a vehicle with children, always ensure that you keep them in the back of the vehicle. This will prevent them from bouncing around the vehicle or becoming confused and distracted while driving.
It's also a good idea to put your phone away and not use it while driving. Talking on the phone, or texting may result in rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine of your car could be one of the most important parts for you as a driver, but it can be also be one of the most frustrating parts. In the event of an accident, you may discover that your car's engine won't start when you turn the key.
This isn't a problem that is easy to identify and resolve, so it's advisable to bring your car for a routine check-up when the check engine light comes on. The lights will notify you if there's a problem with the alternator, battery and temperature or other parts of your car that need attention.
If you're experiencing difficulty getting your car started after a minor crash it could be because of a malfunctioning inertial sensor that shuts off power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This is designed to protect your vehicle from catching on fire in the event of an impact however, it could also cause damage to your engine should it be tripped.
Another reason you might not be in a position to start your engine after an accident is that the crash could have caused your vehicle's transmission to stop working properly. In this scenario, you will require a professional in order to find out the cause of the issue and fix it.
Even if your car is equipped with an engine that's healthy but it's still essential to check it out once intervals to ensure that it's lubricated properly and is working. This can be accomplished by gently turning on the engine and letting it warm up for 30 minutes or for a few minutes.
When you do this, you're gaining the opportunity to inspect all of your vehicle's belts, hoses, air cleaners, and other components to ensure that they are in good operating condition. This will improve your fuel efficiency and also ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly.
It's also a great method to make sure your tires are at the right pressure. Properly inflated tires will enable them to be more effective on the road and lower the risk of a blowout, or any other damage.