Ten Auto Accident Lawyers That Will Actually Change Your Life
What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident can result in devastating consequences. It can result in a loss of income, benefits and significant out-of-pocket expenses.
If you're the victim of an auto accident or a bystander who is watching one, there are several actions you can take to protect yourself and help others.
Beware of Distractions
If you're distracted while driving, it can have a dramatic impact on your safety as well as that of others. eating, texting, and grooming are among the most frequent distractions.
Distracted drivers could cause serious injuries or even death to the people who are around them. This is because distracted driving may cause drivers to ignore hazards and unexpected problems right in front of them, or to overlook important road warning signs.
Distractions may be anything that diverts the driver's attention from driving which causes them to lose control. They can be physical or manual, and each type has its own unique characteristics.
Visual distractions refer to things that distract a driver's attention from the road. Examples include using a GPS or reading a signboard or rubbernecking in a car accident. This could be extremely dangerous particularly when the driver is travelling at a high speed or when they are passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can be dangerous, especially when drivers aren't paying attention to the road or fail to react quickly. Eating while driving changing the radio station or reaching for something in the back of the car can all be very distracting.
Cognitive distractions can be as harmful as other distractions. They can be caused by talking on the phone or singing, or even thinking about an emotional situation. They can also be indications of drowsiness, which can make it hard for a driver stay focused on the road.
Set boundaries and practice attentive driving to be aware of distractions while driving. This can be done by modeling behavior and establishing rules to limit the time spent on screens.
It's important to remember that driving distracted poses a risk for everyone, not just teens and new drivers. Even pets, elderly people and motorists who are sleepy can be distractions when driving.
You can also suggest to them to put their phone on "do not disturb" mode and switch it off when they are driving. You can also advise them to put their cell phone in "do not distract" mode and then turn off the phone when they are behind the wheel.
Staying Away
One of the most important things you can do to keep your car safe when driving is to keep an appropriate distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. This can help avoid a collision and protect yourself and others in the vicinity from injury and death.
There are many methods to ensure that you're keeping the correct distance while driving. You can use the 3-second calculation to determine if you are following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on the fact that it takes about three seconds to react when another vehicle abruptly brakes. If you are too close to the car in front of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is especially true for truck drivers, who need ample space to safely brake when they are approaching a stop. Many accidents involving semis or large rigs occur because drivers fail to follow this road rule and can result in serious injuries or even death for everyone involved.
You can also measure the distance you must follow a vehicle by counting the amount of time you need to reach a particular location after the vehicle in the front has passed by it. You can do this by locating an overhead road sign, a tree, or other roadside marker and watching the vehicle ahead of you go by it.
Once you've established how long it takes for your vehicle to get there after the other car passes it, begin counting again. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000, and then 31,000 until you have reached the gap of three seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
If you're unable reach three seconds, increase your following distance gradually until you are there. It may require a slowing down to avoid a collision but the effort worth it.
The most frequent rear-end collisions happen when drivers are too close to the vehicle in front. You can avoid collisions by extending your distance of following.
Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are among the most frequently occurring auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that they represent almost 1/3 of all accidents that result in around 2,000 deaths each year in the United States.
While front-end collisions are more deadly, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can also lead to a variety of soft-tissue injuries, including whiplash.
These accidents can cause drivers to suffer severe pain and discomfort in the neck, shoulder and back areas. These injuries are often accompanied by physical therapy, medical expenses and lost wages in order to recover.
Keep your distance from other cars to avoid an accident. This means you should be following the vehicles at a safe speed and not to tailgate them.
You can increase your chance of rear-end collisions if you're driving too close. This is due to the fact that you won't have enough time to respond to dangers like slow or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum of three seconds of following distance for passenger cars, and more for larger vehicles.
Rear-end collisions can be especially dangerous when road or weather conditions are challenging. If you're driving in heavy snow or rain for instance, you should increase your distance to follow.
To avoid a rear-end collision, look at your rear-view mirror often depending on how busy the traffic is ahead of you. This will allow you to determine if a car in front of you has reduced speed or applied the brakes.
Use your turn signals to switch lanes or to pull away from a lot. best auto accident lawyers near me will help the driver behind you understand your vehicle and prevent them from swerving out of their lane in order to strike you.
Keep children in the back of the vehicle when you travel with them. This will prevent them from running around the vehicle, or becoming disoriented and distracting while you are driving.
It is an excellent idea to keep your phone away while driving and not use it to distract you. Talking or texting on your phone could be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.
Making sure your engine is running
The engine in your vehicle could be one of the most crucial components for you as a driver, but it could also be one of the most frustrating components. In the event of an accident, you may notice that your car's engine doesn't start when you turn the key.
The issue is difficult to fix or diagnose, so you should take your vehicle in as soon as the light comes on. The lights will let you know in the event of a problem with the alternator, battery and temperature or other parts of your car that need attention.
If you're having difficulty starting your vehicle following an accident that isn't too serious it could be due to a tripped switch that cuts off power to the fuel pump. This switch is intended to prevent your vehicle from burning in the case of a collision, but it can also damage your engine when it's tripped.
Another reason you might not be able to start your engine after an accident is that the collision could have caused your car's transmission to stop working properly. In this scenario you'll have to seek assistance from an expert mechanic to pinpoint the cause of the issue, and then fix it before you are able to start your vehicle once more.
Even if you have a well-maintained car it is vital to run the engine often to make sure that it is properly lubricated. This can be done by turning the engine on slowly and allow it to warm for 30 seconds.
When you do this, you're taking an opportunity to inspect all your vehicle's hoses, belts, air cleaners, and other components to ensure they are in good functioning order. This will help improve the efficiency of your vehicle and ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly.
It's also a great way to ensure that your tires are at the right pressure. Properly inflated tires will enable them to better grip the road and reduce the risk of a blowout or other damage.