What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident can have devastating effects. It could result in loss of income, benefits, and significant out-of-pocket costs.
If you're a victim in an auto accident or a bystander who is witnessing one, there are numerous ways to protect yourself and help others.
Avoiding Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it can cause a huge impact on your safety and that of others. Food, texting, and grooming are among the most frequently-repeated distractions.
Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or death to others in their vicinity. This is because distracted driving may cause drivers to disregard dangers and unexpected issues right in front of them, or to miss important road signs.
Distractions can refer to anything that diverts a driver's focus from the road which causes them to lose control. They can be either visual as well as cognitive, manual or both and each type is unique in its own way.
Visual distractions are the things that take a driver's eyes off the road, for example, using a GPS or a billboard or rubbernecking into an accident. It can be dangerous, especially when the driver is driving at highway speeds while passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions are also dangerous, particularly when drivers do not pay attention to the road or cannot react quickly. While driving, eating or changing the radio station and reaching for something in the backseat can be extremely distracting.
Cognitive distractions can be as dangerous as other distractions. They could include calling and singing, as well as thinking about an emotional situation. They can also be indications of drowsiness and make it hard for a driver stay focused on the road.
The best way to avoid distractions while driving is to establish boundaries and practice attentive driving. You can accomplish this by setting rules and following by example.
It's important to keep in mind that distracted driving is a risk for all drivers not just teenagers and new drivers. Older people, drivers who are drowsy and even pets can be distractions for drivers.
If you know someone who is susceptible to distracted driving, make sure to talk to them about the importance of keeping their focus on the road and ways to prevent this from happening. You can also encourage your friend to shut off their phone and turn it on "do-not-disturb" mode while they drive.
Keep Your Distance
Maintaining a safe distance from vehicle in front of you is among of the most important actions you can take to ensure your car's safety. This can prevent a collision and ensure that you are protected and the people in the vicinity from injury and death.
There are a variety of ways to ensure you're following the right distance when driving. You can utilize the 3-second calculation to determine if you are following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on the fact that it takes approximately three seconds to react if another vehicle brakes suddenly. If you are too close to the vehicle in front of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is especially true for truck drivers, who need plenty of space to safely brake when approaching a stop. This road safety rule is often ignored by drivers, resulting in serious injuries or deaths.
You can also determine the distance you must follow a car by calculating the time it takes you to get to a specific point after the vehicle in the front has passed it. You can do this by locating an overhead road sign, a tree, or other roadside marker and watching the car ahead of you go by it.
Continue counting. Once you have determined the time it will take you to reach that location after a car has passed, begin counting. Begin counting 1-1,000, 21,000 and then 3-1,000 until you have reached three seconds of gap between you and the vehicle in front of you.
If you're unable reach three seconds in an uninterrupted row then gradually increase your distance to follow until you do. It might mean slowing down in order to avoid a collision but the extra effort is worth it.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow too closely the vehicle in front. By increasing the distance you follow and using the 3-second rule, you will be able to avoid these accidents and other collisions which could cause serious damage to your car and the people around you.
Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions rank among the most frequently occurring auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account for nearly a third all accidents and cause around 2,000 deaths per year in the United States.
Although front-end collisions are far more risky, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions could also cause whiplash-like injuries to soft tissues, for example.
These accidents can leave drivers with significant discomfort and pain in their back, shoulder and neck areas. These injuries often require physical therapy, medical costs and lost wages to recover.
The best way to avoid rear-end collisions is to stay away from other vehicles. This means following behind them at an appropriate speed and not following them.
Being too fast can increase the chance of a rear-end collision because you will not have enough time to see and respond to dangers, like slow or stopped traffic in front of you. The National Safety Council recommends that motorists maintain a three-second minimum distance of following distance, and larger vehicles even more.
Rear-end collisions can be especially risky when the road or weather conditions are adverse. If you're driving through heavy snow or rain for instance, you should increase the distance you follow.
To avoid a rear-end collision, make sure you check your rear-view mirror regularly depending on how busy the traffic is in front of you. This will allow you to determine if a driver behind you has reduced speed or applied the brakes.
Another good habit to have is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or getting out of parking lots. This can help the driver in front of you understand your vehicle and help prevent them from swerving out of lane to hit you.
If you're traveling in a car with children, make sure you keep them in the back seat of the vehicle. This will keep children from running 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. Disturbing conversations on the phone or texting can lead to rear-end collisions.
Making sure your engine is running
The engine in your vehicle could be one of the most important elements for you as a driver, however it can be also one of the most frustrating components. If you're involved in an auto accident, your vehicle's engine might not start after you turn the key or press START.
This isn't an issue which is simple to identify and resolve, so it's advisable to take your vehicle for a routine check-up immediately after the check engine light turns on. The lights will alert you that there's an issue with the alternator, battery, temperature or other areas of your vehicle that require attention.
If best auto accident attorney near me are having difficulties starting your vehicle following an accident of a minor nature it could be due to a tripped switch that cuts fuel pump's power. This switch is designed to prevent your car from burning in the incident of a collision but can also damage your engine when it's tripped.
Another reason why you may not be not able to start your car after an accident is that the crash may have caused your vehicle's transmission to stop functioning properly. In this case, you will have to seek out a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and fix it.
Even if your vehicle has a healthy engine, it's still important to run it once in a while to make sure it's properly lubricated and running. This can be done by turning the engine off gently and letting it warm for 30 minutes.
This is the time to inspect all belts, hoses, and air cleaners in your vehicle to make sure they're functioning properly. This will improve your gas mileage and help keep your vehicle running smoothly.
This is also a great way to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. When your tires are properly inflated, they will ensure that they can grip the road better and reduce the chances of a tire blowout or other damage.