What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car crash can be a devastating incident. It could result in loss of income, benefits, and significant out-of-pocket costs.
If you're the victim of an auto accident or who's witnessing one, there are several ways you can protect yourself and help others.
Beware of Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it could affect your safety as well as the safety of others. eating, texting, and grooming are just a few of the most frequently-repeated distractions.
Distracted drivers could cause serious injuries or even death to those around them. This is because distracted driving could cause drivers to miss dangers and unexpected problems right in front of them, or to miss important road signs.
Distractions refer to anything that diverts drivers' attention away from the road and causes them to lose control of their vehicle. They can be physical as well as cognitive, manual or both and each has its own unique characteristics.
Visual distractions are the things that distract drivers' attention from the road, such as using a GPS or a billboard or rubbernecking into an accident. This could be extremely dangerous, especially when the driver is traveling at highway speeds, or when they are passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions are also risky, particularly when drivers fail to pay attention to the road or cannot react quickly. While driving, eating can be extremely distracting or even changing the radio station, or reaching for something in the back of the car.
automobile accidents attorneys can be as harmful as other distractions. These distractions include calling or singing, or thinking about an emotionally charged scenario. They can also be indications of drowsiness and make it difficult for a driver to remain focused on the road.
Set boundaries and practice attentive driving to avoid distractions while driving. You can accomplish this by establishing guidelines and modeling.
It's important to be aware that everyone is at risk of being a distracted driver and it's not just teenagers or new drivers. Even pets, older people and drowsy motorists could be distractions while driving.
You can also ask them to put their cell phone on "do not disturb" mode and turn it off while they are driving. You can also encourage your friend to switch off their mobile and put it on "do-not-disturb" mode when they are driving.
Keep Your Distance
One of the most important actions you can take to ensure the safety of your vehicle when driving is to keep a safe distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. This will prevent a collision and shield the people around you from injury or death.
There are several ways to make sure you're following the correct distance when driving. One method is to apply the 3-second rule. It's a an easy calculation that will aid in determining if you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on the fact that it takes approximately three seconds to react when a car brakes suddenly. If you are too close to the vehicle in front of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is particularly true for truck drivers, who require plenty of space to safely brake as they approach a stop. This rule of the road is often not observed by drivers, resulting in serious injuries and deaths.
In addition to the three-second rule, you may also measure your following distance by finding a fixed object and counting how long it takes you to arrive at the same spot after the vehicle in front of you passes it. You can do this by finding an overhead road sign, tree, or other roadside marker and watching the car ahead of you go by it.
Count again. Once you've determined the time it will take your car to reach that location after another vehicle has passed, start counting. You'll be counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 3-1,000 until you have reached three seconds between you and the car in front of you.
If you're not able reach three seconds, you can increase your following distance gradually until you get there. This may involve slowing down to avoid the risk of crashing but it's definitely worth the extra effort.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow the vehicle in front of them too closely. By increasing the distance you follow and using the 3-second rule, you can avoid these crashes and other collisions that can cause serious damage to your vehicle and those around you.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions rank among the most frequently occurring auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that they constitute nearly one third of all crashes that result in about 2,000 deaths every year in the United States.
While front-end collisions can be more dangerous, rear-end collisions can result in serious injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can also result in soft-tissue injuries such as whiplash.
These injuries can leave drivers with significant discomfort and pain in the back, shoulder and neck areas. They often require physical therapy, medical bills and lost wages to heal from.
The best method to avoid a rear-end collision is to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. This means that you should follow behind them at the appropriate speed and never tailgating them.
Driving too fast could increase the risk of a rear-end crash because you won't have the time to notice and react to dangers, like slow or stopped traffic the front of you. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance for vehicles that are primarily passenger vehicles, and more for larger vehicles.
Rear-end collisions can be particularly risky when weather or road conditions are hazardous. If you're driving in heavy snow or rain for instance, increase your distance to follow.
To avoid a rear-end collision, check your rear-view mirror often, depending on how congested the traffic is ahead of you. This will allow you to identify if the driver in front of you has stopped or applied the brakes.
Another good practice is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or taking a car out of parking lots. This will allow the driver in front of you see your car and stop them from swerving into their vehicle to avoid hitting you.
Always ensure that children are in the back of the vehicle when you are traveling with them. This will keep children from bouncing around in the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracted while driving.
It is also a great idea to put your phone away and avoid using it while driving. Talking or texting on the phone could be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.
Making sure your engine is running
The engine of your car may be one of the most crucial components for you as a driver, but it could be also one of the most frustrating parts. If you get into an accident, your vehicle's engine might not begin after you turn the key or press START.
This isn't an issue which is simple to identify and solve, so it's best to bring your car to a mechanic as soon as the check engine light turns on. The lights will alert if your car has an issue in the area of battery, temperature, alternator or in any other area.
If you're having trouble starting your car following an accident, it could be because of a tripped inertial control which shuts off power to your vehicle's fuel pump. This switch is designed to prevent your car from catching fire in the incident of a collision but can also damage your engine when it's tripped.
It is possible that you won't be able to start your car following an accident as your car's engine transmission has stopped functioning properly. In this scenario you'll need assistance from an expert mechanic to determine what caused the issue and fix it before you can begin your vehicle once more.
Even if your car has an engine that's healthy, it's still important to run it every once in every so often to ensure it's lubricated and working properly. This can be accomplished by turning the engine and letting it warm up for 30 seconds or so.
It is a good idea to use this time to inspect all belts, hoses, and air cleaners in your vehicle to make sure they're functioning properly. This will help improve your fuel efficiency and also ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly.
This is a great way to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires will enable them to grip the road more effectively and lower the risk of a blowout or other damage.