What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident A car accident can result in devastating consequences. It can lead to loss of income, benefits, and substantial out-of pocket costs. You can help yourself and others by staying protected if you're the victim of a car crash or a witness. Avoiding Distractions If you are distracted while driving, it could affect your safety and that of others. Some of the most common distractions include texting, eating and grooming. If distracted drivers are involved in an accident, it could cause grave injuries and death for the people who are around them. This is because distracted driving could cause drivers to disregard dangers and unexpected problems in front of them or to ignore important road signs. Distractions are anything that diverts the attention of a driver away from the road and causes them to lose control of their vehicle. They can be either visual or cognitive, and each has their own distinctive characteristics. Visual distractions can be anything that distract drivers from the road. Examples include using a GPS or watching a signboard or rubbernecking in a car accident. This can be very dangerous, especially when the driver is travelling at highway speeds, or when they are walking or passing pedestrians. Manual distractions can also be dangerous, especially when drivers are not paying attention to the road ahead and fail to react quickly enough. Eating while driving changing the radio station or reaching for something in the backseat could be very distracting. Cognitive distractions can be as dangerous as other distractions. They could be a result of using the phone and singing, as well as thinking about a stressful situation. They can also be a sign of drowsiness, which can make it difficult for a driver to focus on the road. Set boundaries and practice attentive driving to be aware of distractions while driving. You can accomplish this by establishing guidelines and modeling. It's important to be aware that everyone is at risk for being a distracted driver, and it's certainly not just teens or new drivers. Older drivers, tired drivers and even pets can be potential distractions when driving. You can also ask them to put their mobile phone on do not disturb mode and turn it off while they are behind the wheel. You can also help them to put their mobile phone in do not distract mode and turn off when they're driving. Keep Your Distance One of the most important ways to ensure the safety of your vehicle while driving is to maintain an appropriate distance between yourself and any vehicle ahead of you. This will help avoid a collision and protect yourself and others who are around you from injury or death. There are a variety of methods to ensure that you're keeping the correct distance when driving. One approach is to employ the 3-second rule. It's an easy calculation that will aid you in determining if you're following too closely. best auto accident attorneys -second rule is based on the fact that you need around three seconds to respond when another vehicle abruptly brakes. If you are too close to the car in front of you, it could be difficult to stop safely. This is particularly true for truck drivers who require plenty of room to stop safely before approaching a traffic stop. Many accidents involving semis and big rigs happen because drivers fail to observe this rule of the road, which can lead to serious injuries, or even death for all involved. You can also calculate the distance required to follow a vehicle by calculating the amount of time you need to reach a certain point after the vehicle in the front has passed it. This can be accomplished by watching the car in the direction of an overhead sign, tree or other roadside markers. Recount. Once you have determined how long it will take you to get to that spot after a car has passed, begin counting. Count 1-1,000, 2-1,000, and then 3-1,000 until attain a gap of three seconds between you and the vehicle in front. If you're not able to reach three seconds, you can increase your following distance gradually until you get there. It might mean slowing down in order 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 increasing your following distance. Avoiding Rear-End Collisions Rear-end collisions comprise among the most common types of auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account for more than a third of all accidents and cause around 2,000 deaths per year in the United States. While front-end collisions are more dangerous, rear-end collisions can result in serious injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions are also prone to a variety of soft tissue injuries, including whiplash. These injuries can cause significant discomfort in the neck, back and shoulder regions. They may require physical therapy, medical bills and lost wages to heal from. Keep your distance from other cars to avoid an accident. This means that you should follow them at a reasonable speed and not to tailgate them. Being too fast can increase the chance of a rear-end collision since you may not have enough time to notice 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 the weather or road conditions are poor, rear-end collisions are more risky. If you are driving in heavy snow or rain for instance, increase the distance you follow. You should regularly check your rear-view mirror to avoid a rear end collision. This depends on how busy the traffic is ahead of you. This will let you know whether the driver behind you is accelerating or applying the brakes. Use your turn signals to switch lanes or to pull away from a lot. This will allow drivers behind you see your vehicle and stop them from turning into their lane in order to hit you. If you are traveling in a car with children, make sure you keep them in the back of the vehicle. This will help prevent children from bouncing around in the vehicle, or becoming confused and distracted while you are driving. It is also a good idea to keep your phone away while you are driving and avoid using it to distract you. Texting or talking on the phone texting can cause rear-end collisions. Keep Your Engine Running The engine in your car is among the most important parts for you as a driver However, it can be frustrating. If you're involved in an accident, the engine of your car might not start until you turn the key or press START. This isn't a issue that's simple to spot and fix, so it's best to bring your car for a routine check-up when the check engine light comes on. The lights will indicate when your car is experiencing problems in the areas of battery temperature, temperature alternator, or any other part of the. If you're having trouble getting your car started after a minor accident, it could be the result of a tripped inertial control that shuts off power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This is intended to safeguard your vehicle from catching on fire in the event of a crash, but it can also cause damage to your engine if tripped. You may not be able start your car following an accident as your car's engine transmission isn't working properly. In this instance you'll need to consult a mechanic in order to find out the cause of the issue and fix it. Even if your car has an engine that's in good shape however, it's important to check it out once the course of time to ensure it's properly lubricated and running. This can be done by turning the engine on slowly and letting it warm for 30 seconds. This is the time to inspect all belts, hoses and cleaners in your vehicle to make sure they are working properly. This will increase your gas mileage as well as ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly. This is also a great technique to ensure your tires are inflated properly. Properly inflated tires will enable them to better grip the road and lower the risk of a blowout, or any other damage.
best auto accident attorneys