10 Quick Tips To Auto Accident Lawyers
What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident can have devastating consequences. It can cause loss of income, benefits and significant out-of-pocket expenses.
If you're the victim of an auto accident or who is watching one, there are numerous things you can do to ensure your safety and assist others.
auto accident defense attorney of Distractions
Distracted driving has a huge impact on your safety as well as the safety of others. Some of the most common distractions include texting, eating and grooming.
Distracted drivers could cause serious injuries or death to those in their vicinity. This is because distracted driving may cause drivers to disregard dangers and unexpected issues in front of them or to ignore important road signs.
Distractions are anything that takes drivers' attention away from the road and causes them to lose control of their vehicle. They can be either visual or manual, and each type has its own distinct characteristics.
Visual distractions include things that distract a driver's attention from the road. Examples include using a GPS or reading a signboard or even rubbernecking a car accident. This can be very risky especially when the driver is travelling at a high speed or when they are driving by pedestrians or other vehicles.
Manual distractions can be dangerous, particularly when drivers aren't paying attention to the road, or do not react quickly. Eating while driving, changing the radio station and reaching for something in the backseat can all be very distracting.
Cognitive distractions are a less visible but equally deadly category of distractions. They could include conversations on the phone or singing, or even thinking about a personal issue. They can also be a sign of drowsiness, which can make it difficult for drivers to concentrate on the road.
The best way to stay clear of distracting driving habits is to set good boundaries and practice attentive driving. You can accomplish this by establishing guidelines and modeling.
It's important to remember that everyone is at risk for being a distracted driver and it's certainly not just teens or new drivers. 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 eyes to the road and how to prevent this from happening. You can also help them to put their cell phone on "do not distract" mode and turn off when they're driving.
Staying Away
One of the most important ways to ensure your car's safety when driving is to keep a safe distance between yourself and any vehicle that is ahead of you. This can help prevent an accident and protect your passengers and yourself from injury or death.
There are a variety of methods to ensure you're traveling at the right distance. One method is to apply the 3-second rule, which is a simple calculation that can help you determine if you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on fact that it takes three seconds for you to react when another car brakes suddenly. If you are too close to the car in front of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is particularly true of truck drivers, who need plenty of space to brake safely when approaching an end. Many accidents involving semis and large rigs occur because drivers fail to follow this road rule and can result in grave injuries or even deaths for everyone involved.
You can also calculate the distance you have to follow a vehicle by counting the amount of time you need to reach a particular location after the vehicle in the front has passed it. You can do this by looking for an overhead road sign, a tree, or other roadside marker and observing the car in front of you drive by it.
Count again. Once you have determined the time it will take you to reach that location after another driver has passed, start counting. You'll be counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 3-1,000, until you reach the gap of three seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you.
If you're not able achieve three seconds, then increase your following distance gradually until you are there. This could mean slowing down in order to avoid a collision, but the effort worth it.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers are too close to the vehicle in front of them. You can avoid these collisions and other accidents by increasing the distance you follow.
Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are amongst the most common types of auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account to almost a third of all accidents and cause 2,000 deaths annually in the United States.
Although front-end collisions are far more fatal, rear-end collisions can be still a significant cause for injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions could also cause whiplash-like injuries to soft tissues, for example.
These injuries can cause severe pain in the back, neck and shoulder areas. These injuries often require physical therapy, medical expenses and lost wages to heal.
Keep your distance from other vehicles to avoid an accident. This means following them at a safe speed and not speeding up to them.
Driving too fast could increase the risk of a rear-end collision since 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 passenger cars maintain a three-second minimum following distance and larger vehicles more.
Rear-end collisions can be especially risky when the road or weather conditions are adverse. When driving in severe snow or rain for instance you should increase the distance you follow and take extra care.
To avoid a rear-end collision, make sure you check your rearview mirror frequently depending on how congested the traffic ahead of you. This will help you identify if the driver in front of you has reduced speed or applied the brakes.
Another good habit to adopt is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or pulling out of a parking lot. This helps the driver behind you to see your car and assist them in avoiding a swerve off the lane and hit you.
If you're in a car with children, ensure that you keep them in the back of the vehicle. This will prevent children from moving around in the vehicle, or becoming confused and distracting while you are driving.
It is also a good idea to not use your phone when driving and not use it to distract you. Talking or texting on your phone could be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine of your vehicle could be among the most important components to you as a driver, but it can be also be one of the most frustrating components. If you get into an accident, your vehicle's engine may not start immediately after you turn the key or press START.
This is not a problem that's easy to diagnose and resolve, so it's advisable to bring your car to a mechanic when the check engine light turns on. The lights will alert you when there's a problem with the battery, alternator or temperature, or any other part of your car that need attention.
If you are having difficulties starting your vehicle following an accident that isn't too serious it could be due to a tripped switch that cuts the fuel pump's power. This is intended to safeguard your vehicle from lighting on fire in the event of an accident, but it can also cause damage to your engine if shut off.
It's possible that you are unable to start your car after an accident, because your vehicle's engine transmission has stopped working properly. In this situation, you will have to seek out a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and fix it.
Even if you have a well-maintained car it is vital to run the engine every once or twice to ensure that it's properly lubricated. This can be done by gently turning on the engine and letting it warm up for about 30 minutes or so.
When you do this, you're taking the chance to check all of your vehicle's hoses and belts, air cleaners and other components to make sure they're in good functioning order. This will increase your gas mileage and keep your vehicle running smoothly.
This is also a great technique to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. If your tires are properly inflated, it will ensure that they be more stable on the road and lessen the risk of an accident involving a blowout of your tire or other damage.