Ten Auto Accident Lawyers That Will Actually Change Your Life
What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident can be a devastation. It can result in a loss of income, benefits and significant out-of-pocket expenses.
You can aid yourself and others by remaining safe if you are the victim of a car crash or a witness.
Beware of Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it can affect your safety and the safety of others. Texting, eating, and grooming are some of the most frequently-repeated distractions.
If distracted drivers are involved in an accident, it can cause grave injuries and death for those around them. Drivers who are distracted could ignore road signs and hazards or overlook unexpected problems.
Distractions may be anything that distracts a driver's attention from the road which causes them to lose control. They can be visual or cognitive, and each comes with distinctive characteristics.
Visual distractions are things that distract drivers' eyes from the road, for example, using a GPS, looking at a billboard or rubbernecking an accident. This could be risky particularly when a driver is traveling at highway speeds while passing other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions are also dangerous, particularly when drivers don't pay attention to the road or fail to react quickly. While driving, eating, changing the radio station or reaching for something in the backseat could all be very distracting.
Cognitive distractions are a less visible but equally dangerous category of distractions. These can be distractions like calling or singing, or pondering an emotionally charged scenario. They could also be indicators of drowsiness and make it difficult to keep a driver's attention on the road.
The best way to stay clear of distractions while driving is to establish boundaries and practice attentive driving. This can be done by modeling behavior and establishing rules that limit screen time.
It's important to remember that driving distracted poses an issue for everyone, not just teens and new drivers. Older drivers, tired drivers and even pets can all be potential distractions when driving.
If you have a loved one who is prone to distraction while driving, make sure to talk with them about the importance of keeping their eyes to the road and how to avoid this happening. You can also advise them to put their cell phone on "do not disturb" mode and turn off the device when they're behind the wheel.
Keep Your Distance
Maintaining a safe distance from vehicle in the front of you is one of the best attorney car accident attorneys near me accident (research by the staff of doodleordie.com) ways to ensure your vehicle's safety. This will prevent the possibility of a collision, and also protect your passengers and yourself from injury or death.
There are many ways to make sure that you're taking the right distance when driving. One option is to utilize the 3-second rule, which is a a simple calculation that can aid in determining if you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on fact that it takes approximately three seconds to react when a car brakes suddenly. 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 of room to stop safely before approaching a traffic stop. This road safety rule is often not observed by drivers, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.
In addition to the three-second rule, you may also determine your distance following by finding an object fixed and calculating the time it takes you to reach the exact point after the vehicle ahead of you passes it. You can do this by looking lawyers for car accidents near me an overhead road sign, tree, or any other roadside marker, and watching the vehicle in front of you drive by it.
Count again. Once you have determined the time it will take you to reach the spot after another vehicle has passed, start counting. Begin counting 1-1,000, 21,000 and then 3,001 until you have reached the gap of three seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you.
If you can't reach three seconds in one row slowly increase the distance you follow until you get there. This could mean slowed down to avoid a collision but the effort worth it.
The most common rear-end collisions occur when drivers are too close to the vehicle in front. You can avoid these collisions and others by extending your distance of following.
Avoiding Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are among the most common auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that they are responsible for almost a third of all crashes and cause approximately 2,000 deaths per year in the United States.
While front-end collisions are much more deadly, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions may also cause soft-tissue injuries such as whiplash.
These injuries can cause drivers to suffer severe discomfort and pain in their neck, shoulder, and back areas. These injuries usually require physical therapy, medical expenses and lost wages in order to heal.
Keep your distance from other cars to avoid an accident. This means that you should be following them at a safe pace and not lag behind them.
You could increase the chance of rear-end collisions if you're driving too close. This is because you don't have enough time to react to potential hazards such as slower or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends that drivers maintain a three-second minimum following distance and larger vehicles more.
If the weather or road conditions are hazardous rear-end collisions can be more dangerous. If you're driving in heavy rain or snow for instance, you may need to increase the distance you follow.
Check your rear-view-mirror frequently to avoid a rear end collision. This depends on how busy the traffic is in front of you. This will allow you to determine whether the driver behind you is slowing down or applying the brakes.
Another great habit to keep is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or getting out of parking spaces. This will help the driver in front of you see your vehicle and prevent them from swerving into your lane in order to hit you.
Always ensure that your children are in the back of the car accident lawyer no injury while traveling with them. This will stop children 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 on the phone or texting may result in rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine of your car could be one of the most important components to you as a driver, but it can also be among the most frustrating components. In the event of an accident, you may find that your car's engine doesn't start when you turn the key.
The problem is not easy to fix or diagnose, so you should take your vehicle to the mechanic as soon as the light comes on. The lights will alert if your car has problems in the areas of battery, temperature, alternator, or any other aspect.
If you're experiencing difficulty starting your car following a minor crash it could be the result of a malfunctioning inertial switch that cuts power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This is designed to protect your vehicle from lighting on fire in the event of an impact however, it could also cause damage to your engine should it be damaged if it is tripped.
Another reason why you may not be capable of starting your engine after an accident is that the crash may have caused your vehicle's transmission to cease functioning properly. In this case you'll need to consult a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and then fix it.
Even if your car is equipped with a healthy engine however, it's important to run it every once in intervals to ensure it's properly lubricated and running. This can be done by turning off the engine and letting it warm for 30 seconds or for a few minutes.
You can take this opportunity to examine all belts, hoses and cleaners in your vehicle to make sure they're operating properly. This will increase your gas mileage and keep your vehicle running smoothly.
It's also a great way to make sure your tires have the correct pressure. If your tires are properly inflated, it will ensure that they can grip the road better and reduce the chances of a tire blowout or other damage.