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 expenses.
You can help yourself and others by remaining secure if you're the victim of a car accident or witness to one.
Avoid Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it can 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 can cause grave injuries and death for those who are around them. Drivers who are distracted may ignore road signs or hazards or overlook unexpected problems.
Distractions may be anything that diverts the driver's attention from driving, causing them to lose control. They can be visual or cognitive, and each has distinctive characteristics.
Visual distractions refer to things that distract a driver's attention from the road. Examples include using a GPS or looking at a signboard or rubbernecking an accident. This could be very dangerous especially when the driver is driving at highway speeds, or when they are passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can also be harmful, especially when drivers aren't paying attention to the road and are unable to react quickly enough. Eating while driving can be extremely distracting and can be a distraction, as could changing the radio station or looking for something behind the vehicle.
Cognitive distractions can be just as harmful as other distractions. These distractions include conversations on a cell phone, singing, or thinking about an emotional situation. These are also signs of drowsiness, which can make it difficult for drivers to stay focused on the road.
The best way to stay clear of distracting behavior while driving is to establish boundaries and practice attentive driving. You can accomplish this by establishing rules and living by example.
It's important to be aware that everyone is at risk for being a distracted driver and it's not just teens or new drivers. Even pets, older individuals and drowsy motorists can cause distractions while driving.
You can also ask them to put their phone on "do not disturb" mode and turn it off when they are behind the wheel. You can also advise them to put their mobile phone on "do not distract" mode and turn it off when they are behind the wheel.
Staying Away
One of the most important actions you can take to ensure your car's safety when driving is to keep a safe distance between yourself and any vehicle ahead of you. This will help avoid a collision and shield the people around you from injury or death.
There are a variety of ways to ensure you're following the proper distance when driving. One option is to utilize the 3-second rule, which is an easy calculation that will help you determine if you're following too closely.
Accident Injury Lawyers -second rule is based upon the fact that you require about three seconds to react in the event that another vehicle suddenly stops. If you are too close to the vehicle ahead of you, it could be difficult to stop safely.
This is particularly true for truck drivers, who require ample space to safely brake when they are approaching an end. This road safety rule is often not observed by drivers, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
You can also measure the distance you must follow a vehicle by measuring the time it takes to get to a specific point after the vehicle at the front has passed by it. This can be accomplished by watching the car in advance of an overhead sign, tree or any other roadside markers.
Count again. Once you've determined the time it will take for your car to reach the spot after a car has passed, start 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 ahead.
If you're not able to get three seconds in one row, gradually increase the distance you follow until you reach. This could require a slowing down to avoid a collision, but the effort worth it.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers are too close to the vehicle in front of them. By increasing your following distance and utilizing the 3-second rule, you will be able to prevent these crashes and other collisions that can cause serious damage to your vehicle and those near you.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are amongst most common types of automobile accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account to almost a third of all accidents and cause 2,000 deaths annually in the United States.
Although front-end collisions can be more hazardous, rear-end collisions can cause serious injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions may also cause whiplash-like injuries to soft tissues, for example.
These injuries can cause severe pain in the back, neck and shoulder regions. These injuries often require physical therapy, medical costs and lost wages to heal.
Keep your distance from other vehicles to avoid an accident. This means following behind them at the appropriate speed and never speeding up to them.
Being too fast can increase your risk of a rear-end crash because you won't have the time to be able to recognize and react to potential hazards, such as slower or stopped traffic in the area in front of you. The National Safety Council recommends that motorists maintain a three-second minimum distance of following distance and larger vehicles more.
Rear-end collisions can be extremely dangerous when road or weather conditions are threatening. When driving in severe snow or rain for instance you should extend your following distance and use extra care.
To avoid the possibility of a rear-end crash, make sure to check your rear-view mirror frequently depending on how crowded the traffic ahead of you. This will help you determine if a car in front of you has stopped or applied the brakes.
Use your turn signals to change lanes or pull away from a lot. This will allow drivers behind you see your vehicle and stop them from swerving in their direction to hit you.
If you're in a vehicle with children, you must ensure that you keep them in the back of the vehicle. This will stop children from moving around in the vehicle, or becoming disoriented and distracted while driving.
It's also a good idea to put your phone away and not use it while driving. Texting or talking on the phone texting may result in rear-end collisions.
Making sure your engine is running
The engine in your car could be among the most important parts for you as a driver, but it could be also one of the most difficult parts. If you get into an auto accident, the engine of your car might not start after you turn the key or press START.
The issue isn't simple to diagnose or fix So you must bring your car in as soon when the light turns on. The lights will inform you that there's an issue with the battery, alternator and temperature or other parts of your car that need attention.
If you're having difficulty starting your car after an accident that isn't too serious it could be due to a malfunctioning switch that shuts off the power to the fuel pump. This is intended to safeguard your car from lighting on fire in the event of an accident, but it can also cause damage to your engine if shut off.
Another reason why you may not be not able to start your car following an accident is that the crash could have caused your vehicle's transmission to cease functioning properly. In this case you'll have to seek assistance from a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and then fix it before you can start your vehicle again.
Even if you have a well-maintained car it is vital to check the engine every often to make sure it's properly lubricated. This can be done by turning off the engine and letting it warm for 30 seconds or more.
When you do this, you're gaining the chance to check all of your vehicle's belts, hoses, air cleaners and other parts to ensure they're in good functioning order. This will increase your gas mileage as well as ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly.
It's also a great way to ensure that your tires are at the right pressure. Properly inflated tires will enable them to take on the road more effectively and reduce the chance of a blowout or any other damage.