Ten Auto Accident Lawyers That Will Actually Change Your Life
What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A Car wreck lawyer Near me accident can have devastating effects. It can lead to loss of income, benefits, and substantial out-of pocket costs.
If you're the victim of an auto accident or who is watching one, there are a variety of ways to keep yourself safe and help others.
Avoid Distractions
Distracted driving has a huge impact on both your safety as well as the safety of others. The most frequent distractions are eating, texting and grooming.
Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or death to others near them. Drivers who are distracted could ignore road signs or hazards or fail to notice unexpected issues.
Distractions could be anything that diverts the driver's attention from driving and causes them to lose control. They can be visual, manual or cognitive and each type has its own distinct characteristics.
Visual distractions are things that take a driver's eyes off the road, lawyers for car accident near me example, using a GPS or looking at the billboard, or even rubbernecking in an accident. This can be very dangerous particularly if the driver is travelling at highway speeds or they are passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can also be dangerous, especially when drivers aren't paying attention to the road or react quickly. Consuming food while driving or changing the radio station, and reaching for something in the back of the car can be very distracting.
Cognitive distractions are a less visible but equally dangerous category of distractions. They can include talking on the phone, singing or thinking about a personal issue. They can also be indications of drowsiness and make it hard for a driver stay focused on the road.
The best way to avoid distracting behaviors while driving is to establish good boundaries and practice attentive driving. This can be accomplished by living by example and setting rules to restrict screen time.
It's important to remember that everyone is at risk of being a distracted driver and it's not just teens or drivers who are new. Even pets, older people and motorists who are sleepy are all distractions while driving.
If you have a loved one who is prone to distracted driving, make sure to talk to them about the importance of keeping their focus to the road and how to prevent this from happening. You can also suggest to your friend to switch off their mobile and put it on "do-not-disturb" mode while they drive.
Keep Your Distance
One of the most important things you can do to ensure your car is safe while driving is to maintain an appropriate distance between you and any vehicle that is ahead of you. This can prevent a collision, and protect you and others around you from injury and death.
There are numerous ways to make sure you're driving at the correct distance. You can apply the 3-second formula to determine if you are following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on the fact that it takes approximately three seconds to react when a vehicle brakes abruptly. If you are too close to the vehicle ahead of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is especially true of truck drivers, who need plenty of space to brake safely when they are approaching a stop. This rule of the road is often ignored by drivers, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.
You can also determine the distance you need to follow a vehicle by calculating the time it takes you to reach a fixed place after the car in the front has passed it. You could do this by locating an overhead road sign, a tree, or any other roadside marker, and then watching the car in front of you drive by it.
Once you've figured out how long it takes your car to arrive at the spot when the other vehicle passes it, you can begin counting again. Begin counting 1-1,000, 21,000 and finally, 3-1,000, until you reach three seconds gap between you and the vehicle in front of you.
If you're unable to reach three seconds, you can increase your following distance gradually until you get there. It may mean slowed down to avoid a collision, but the extra effort is worth it.
The most common rear-end collisions occur when drivers follow the vehicle ahead of them too closely. By increasing your following distance and utilizing the 3-second rule, you can avoid these crashes and other collisions that could cause serious damage to your vehicle and the people near 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 three-quarters of all crashes that result in about 2,000 deaths every year in the United States.
While front-end collisions are much more fatal, rear-end collisions can be still a significant cause for injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can also cause whiplash-like injuries to soft tissues, for example.
These injuries can cause significant pain in the back, neck and shoulder regions. They often require physical therapy, medical bills, and lost wages to recover from.
The best way to avoid rear-end collisions is to stay away from other vehicles. This means you must follow them at a reasonable speed and not tailgate them.
Driving too closely can increase the likelihood of a rear-end collision as you won't have enough time to be able to recognize and react to dangers, such as slower or stopped traffic in the front of you. The National Safety Council recommends that drivers maintain a three-second minimum distance to follow, and larger vehicles even more.
Rear-end collisions can be especially dangerous when weather or road conditions are threatening. If you're driving through heavy rain or snow for example, increase your following distance.
Be sure to check your rear view mirror regularly to avoid a rear end collision. This will depend on how crowded the traffic is ahead of you. This will help you determine whether the driver in front of you is accelerating or applying the brakes.
Another good habit to adopt is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or leaving parking lots. This can help the driver in front of you understand your vehicle and assist them in avoiding a swerve out of their lane in order to cause a collision with you.
If you're travelling in a vehicle with children, ensure that they are in the back seat of the vehicle. This will stop them from running around the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracted while driving.
It is also a great idea to put your phone away and not use it while driving. Talking or texting on your phone could be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.
Keeping Your Engine Running
The engine in your car is one of the most important parts for you as a driver, but it can be frustrating. In the event of an accident you may discover that your car's engine will not start when you turn the key.
The problem is not easy to fix or diagnose Therefore, you should bring your vehicle to the mechanic as soon when the light appears. The lights will alert when your car is experiencing a problem in the areas of battery temperature, temperature, alternator or in any other area.
If you're experiencing difficulty getting your car to start after an accident it could be because of a tripped inertial switch that cuts power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This is designed to shield your attorney car accident near me from lighting on fire in the event of a crash but it can also cause damage to your engine if activated.
Another reason why you may not be not able to start your car after an auto accident is that the crash could have caused your vehicle's transmission to stop working properly. In this instance you'll have to talk to a mechanic in order to find out the cause of the issue and then fix it.
Even if you own an engine that is in good condition, it is important to run the engine now and then to ensure it's properly lubricated. This can be done by turning the engine off gently and let it warm for 30 seconds.
When you do this, you're taking an opportunity to examine all of your vehicle's hoses, belts, air cleaners and other components to ensure they are in good car accident attorney operating condition. This will help improve your gas mileage and ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly.
It's also a great method to ensure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If your tires are properly inflated, they will ensure that they grip the road better and lessen the risk of an accident involving a blowout of your tire or other damage.