What to Do If You Get in an Auto
automobile accident attorney near MeA car accident could be a traumatic event. It can involve loss of income and benefits, large cost out of pocket, and severe injuries that require extensive treatment.
If you're the victim of an
auto accident attorney augusta accident or who's witnessing one, there are numerous things you can do to ensure your safety and assist others.
Avoid Distractions
If you're distracted when driving, it can have a dramatic impact on your safety and the safety of others. Some of the most common distractions include eating, texting, and grooming.
Distracted drivers could cause serious injuries or even death to the people in their vicinity. This is because distracted driving may cause drivers to ignore hazards and unexpected complications that are right in front of them, or to miss important road signs.
Distractions are anything that takes drivers' attention away from the road and causes them to lose control of their vehicle. They can be visual or manual and each type has its own distinctive characteristics.
Visual distractions are those that take a driver's eyes off the road, like using a GPS or looking at a billboard or rubbernecking into an accident. It can be dangerous particularly when the driver is driving at highway speeds while passing pedestrians or other vehicles.
Manual distractions can also be extremely harmful, particularly when drivers are not paying attention to the road ahead and fail to react quickly enough. Food while driving can be very distracting as can switching the radio station or reaching for something behind the vehicle.
Cognitive distractions can be just as dangerous as other distractions. They can include using the phone and singing, as well as thinking about a stressful situation. They can also be signs of drowsiness that can make it difficult for a driver to stay focused on the road.
The best way to stay clear of distracting driving habits is to set good boundaries and practice attentive driving. This can be done by modeling behavior and establishing rules to limit the time spent on screens.
It's important that we remember that everyone is at risk for being distracted while driving, and it's certainly not just teens or new drivers. Even pets, elderly people and motorists who are drowsy could be distractions while driving.
If you know someone who is susceptible to distraction while driving, make sure to speak with them about the importance of keeping their eyes to the road and how to stop this from happening. You can also advise them to put their cell phone in "do not disturb" mode and turn off the device when they're driving.
Keeping Your Distance
Maintaining a safe distance to the vehicle in the direction of you is one of the best ways to ensure your vehicle's safety. This will prevent the possibility of a collision, and also protect you and those around you from harm or death.
There are many methods to ensure that you're keeping the correct distance while driving. You can make use of the 3-second calculation to determine if you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based upon the fact that it takes about three seconds to react when another car stops suddenly. If you're too close to the vehicle in the direction of you it won't give you enough time to stop without causing a crash.
This is particularly relevant for truck drivers who require plenty space to stop safely when they approach the traffic stop. Many accidents involving semis or large rigs occur because drivers fail to observe this road rule and could result in grave injuries or even deaths for all involved.
In addition to the three-second rule, you can also determine your distance to follow by locating a fixed object and counting how long it takes you to get to the same place after the car in front of you passes it. You could do this by locating an overhead road sign, a tree, or other roadside marker and then watching the car in front of you drive by it.
Once you've established how long it takes for your car to reach the spot after the other car passes it, continue counting. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 3-1,000 until get to a three-second gap between you and the car ahead.
If you're unable to complete three seconds in a row then gradually increase the distance you follow until you reach. This could mean slowing down in order to avoid a collision but the extra effort is worth it.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow the vehicle in front of them too closely. You can avoid these collisions by increasing the distance you follow.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are among the most frequent
baltimore auto accident lawyer accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that they account for almost three-quarters of all crashes and result in approximately 2,000 deaths per year in the United States.
Although front-end collisions are far more fatal, rear-end collisions can be still a major cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can also cause soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash.
These injuries could cause drivers to be afflicted with severe discomfort and pain in the neck, shoulder and back areas. They may require physical therapy, medical bills and lost wages to recover from.
Keep your distance from other cars to avoid an accident. This means that you must follow behind them at a safe speed and not tailgate them.
You could increase the chances of rear-end collisions by driving too close. This is because you won't have enough time to react to potential hazards like slow or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends a minimum of three seconds of following distance for passenger cars, and greater for larger vehicles.
Rear-end collisions can be extremely risky when weather or road conditions are challenging. If you are driving in snow or heavy rain, for instance, you may need to increase your distance to follow.
You should regularly check your rear-view mirror to avoid a rear end collision. This will depend on the volume of the road ahead of you. This will help you determine if the driver behind you is accelerating or applying the brakes.
Another good practice is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or leaving parking spaces. This can help the driver in front of you to see your car and help prevent them from swerving out of their lane in order to cause a collision with you.
Keep children in the back of the car when you are traveling with them. This will stop children from moving around in the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracted while driving.
It is also a good idea to keep your phone off the road while driving and to not use it to distract yourself. Disturbing conversations on the phone or texting may result in rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine in your car is one of the most vital components for you as a motorist, but it can be a hassle. 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 car in as soon as the light comes on. The lights will alert when your car is experiencing a problem in the areas of battery temperature, temperature, alternator or any other area.
If you're experiencing difficulty getting your car to start after an accident it could be because of a malfunctioning inertial switch that cuts power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This is designed to prevent your car from catching fire in the event of an accident however it can also cause damage to your engine if shut off.
You may not be able start your car after an accident as your car's engine's transmission has stopped working properly.
