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What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car crash can have devastating consequences. It can cause loss of income, benefits, and significant expenses out of pocket.
You can assist yourself and others by staying secure if you're a victim of a car accident or a witness to one.
Beware of Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it could affect your safety and that of others. Texting, eating, and grooming are among the most common distractions.
Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or even death to others around them. This is because distracted driving could cause drivers to miss dangers and unexpected complications that are right in front of them, or to ignore important road signs.
Distractions can be anything that diverts a driver's focus from the road, causing them to lose control. They could be visual or cognitive, and each has distinct characteristics.
Visual distractions refer to things that distract a driver's focus from the road. Examples include using a GPS or reading a signboard or rubbernecking in a car accident. This can be dangerous, especially when the driver is driving at highway speeds while passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can be dangerous, particularly when drivers aren't paying attention to the road, or do not react quickly. Driving while eating can be very distracting and can be a distraction, as could changing the radio station or reaching for something in the back of the car.
Cognitive distractions are a lesser-known but equally dangerous category of distractions. These distractions include conversations on a cell phone or singing or thinking about an emotionally charged event. These are also signs of drowsiness and make it difficult to keep a driver's attention on the road.
Set good boundaries and practice attentive driving to avoid distractions while driving. You can accomplish this by setting rules and living by example.
It's important that we remember that everyone is at risk of being a distracted driver, and it's not only teens or new drivers. Older drivers, sleepy drivers and even pets can all be potential distractions when driving.
You can also encourage them to put their mobile phone on "do not disturb" mode and turn it off when they are behind the wheel. You can also help them to put their cell phone in "do not disturb" mode and then turn off the device when they're behind the wheel.
Keep Your Distance
Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in the direction of you is one of the most important actions you can take to ensure your car's safety. This will help avoid a collision and safeguard you and those near you from injury and death.
There are a variety of ways to ensure that 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 abruptly. If you're too close to the vehicle in front of you and you're not close enough, you won't have enough time to stop in a safe manner before a collision occurs.
This is especially the case for truck drivers, who require plenty space to safely stop when approaching a traffic stop. This rule of the road is often ignored by drivers, which can result in serious injuries, and sometimes deaths.
You can also measure the distance required to follow a vehicle by counting the time it takes you to reach a fixed point after the vehicle in the front has passed it. You can do this by looking for an overhead road sign, tree, or other roadside marker and watching the vehicle in front of you drive by it.
Repeat the count. Once you have determined how long it will take for your car to arrive at that location after another driver has passed, start counting. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 3-1,000 until you get to a three-second gap between you and the vehicle ahead.
If you're not able to get three seconds in a row and you're not able to do that, gradually increase the distance you follow until you can. This may involve slowing down to avoid a crash however it's well worth the extra effort.
The most common rear-end collisions occur when drivers are too close to the vehicle in front. By increasing the distance you follow and using the 3-second rule, you can avoid these collisions and other collisions which could cause serious damage to your car and those in the vicinity.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions rank among the most common auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that they constitute more than 1/3 of all accidents and result in approximately 2,000 deaths per year in the United States.
Although front-end collisions can be more dangerous, rear-end collisions can cause serious injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions could also cause whiplash-like injuries to soft tissues, for example.
These injuries can cause drivers to suffer severe discomfort and pain in the neck, shoulder and back areas. These injuries often require physical therapy, medical costs and lost wages in order to recover.
Keep your distance from other vehicles to avoid an accident. This means following behind them at a safe speed and not tailgating them.
You could increase the chance of rear-end collisions if you're driving too close. This is because you won't have enough time to react to potential hazards like slower or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance for passenger cars, and even more for larger vehicles.
When the weather or road conditions are not ideal rear-end collisions can be more risky. When driving through heavy rain or snow for instance, you should increase your following distance and exercise extra care.
To avoid auto accident defense attorney -end collision, look at your rearview mirror frequently depending on how crowded the traffic is ahead of you. This will allow you to identify if the driver in front of you has been slowing down or has applied the brakes.
Use your turn signals to change lanes or pull away from a lot. This can help the driver in front of you to see your car and assist them in avoiding a swerve out of their lane in order to strike you.
If you're travelling in a car with children, you must make sure you keep them in the back of the vehicle. This will keep children from running around the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracted while you are driving.
It's also a good idea to put your phone away and not use it while driving. Texting or talking on the phone could be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine in your car may be among the most important components to you as a driver, but it could also be among the most frustrating components. If you get into an accident, your vehicle's engine might not start until you turn the key or press START.
The issue isn't simple to determine or fix, so you should take your car in as quickly when the light turns on. The lights will let you know in the event of a problem with the alternator, battery, temperature or other areas of your vehicle that require attention.
If you're having difficulties starting your vehicle following an accident of a minor nature, it could be due to a malfunctioning switch that cuts off power to the fuel pump. This switch is intended to keep your car from catching fire in the incident of a collision however, it could also cause damage to your engine if it's tripped.
It is possible that you won't be able to start your car after an accident, because your vehicle's engine transmission has stopped working properly. In this instance you'll have to seek out a mechanic to determine the cause of the issue and then fix it.
Even if you have a well-maintained car, it is important to check the engine every once or twice to ensure it's properly lubricated. This can be accomplished by turning off the engine and letting it warm for 30 seconds or for a few minutes.
This is the time to inspect all belts, hoses and air cleaners in your vehicle to ensure they are working properly. This will increase your fuel efficiency and also ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly.
This is a great way to ensure that your tires are inflated properly. If your tires are properly inflated, they will ensure that they can be more stable on the road and decrease the risk of blowouts or other damage.