What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car crash can have devastating consequences. It can lead to loss of income, benefits, and substantial out-of pocket costs.
If you're a victim of an auto accident or who's witnessing one, there are many things you can do to keep yourself safe and help others.
Beware of Distractions
If you are distracted while driving, it could cause a huge impact on your safety as well as the safety of others. Food, texting, and grooming are some of the most frequently-repeated distractions.
Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or even death to the people around them. This is due to distracted driving that can cause drivers to ignore hazards and unexpected problems in front of them or to overlook important road warning signs.
Distractions could be anything that distracts a driver's focus from the road which causes them to lose control. They can be physical or manual and each has its own unique characteristics.
Visual distractions can be anything that distract a driver's focus from the road. Examples include using a GPS or watching a signboard or even rubbernecking a car accident. This could be extremely dangerous particularly if the driver is driving at a high speed or when they are traveling by other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can be dangerous, particularly if drivers aren't paying attention to the road, or do not react quickly. While driving, eating changing the radio station or reaching for something in the backseat can be very distracting.
Cognitive distractions can be as harmful as other distractions. They can include conversations on the phone or a song, or thinking about an emotional situation. They could also be signs of drowsiness, which could make it difficult for a driver to stay focused on the road.
Set up good boundaries and practice attentive driving to keep your eyes off the road. This can be accomplished by modeling behavior and setting rules that restrict screen time.
It is important to remember that driving distracted poses danger for everyone, not just teens and new drivers. Older drivers, tired drivers and even pets could all be distractions for drivers.
If you know someone who is susceptible to distraction while driving, be sure to talk with them about the importance of keeping their eye on the road and ways to prevent this from happening. You can also encourage your friend to shut 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 keep your car safe while driving is to maintain an appropriate distance between yourself and any vehicle that is ahead of you. This can prevent collisions, and also ensure that you are protected and the people in the vicinity from injury and death.
There are numerous ways you can ensure that you're driving at the correct distance. One option is to utilize the 3-second rule, which is an easy calculation that can assist you in determining whether you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on fact that it takes three seconds to react when a vehicle stops suddenly. If you are too close to the vehicle in front of you, it could be difficult to stop safely.
This is especially true for truck drivers, who need ample 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 even deaths.
You can also estimate the distance you must follow a car by calculating the amount of time you need to reach a certain location after the vehicle in the front has passed it. You could do this by locating an overhead road sign, a tree, or other roadside marker and observing the car ahead of you go by it.
Recount. Once you've determined how long it will take you to reach the spot after a car has passed, start counting. Begin counting 1-1,000, 21,000 and then 31,000, until you reach the gap of three seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
If you're unable to complete three seconds in a row and you're not able to do that, gradually increase your following distance until you get there. This may mean slowed down to avoid collision however it's well worth the effort.
The most common rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow the vehicle in front of them too closely. You can avoid collisions and other accidents by increasing your following distance.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions rank as the most frequent auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rear-end collisions account for nearly a third all accidents and cause around 2,000 deaths per year in the United States.
Although front-end collisions are far more dangerous, rear-end collisions are still a significant source of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions may also lead to a variety of soft-tissue injuries, such as whiplash.
These injuries can cause severe pain in the neck, back and shoulder regions. They typically require physical therapy, medical bills and lost wages to heal from.
The best way to avoid a rear-end collision is to keep a distance from other vehicles. This means that you should follow behind them at an appropriate speed and not following them.
You can increase your risk of rear-end collisions when driving too close. This is because you won't have enough time to respond to dangers like slow or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends that passenger cars maintain a three-second minimum distance of following distance, and larger vehicles even more.
Rear-end collisions are particularly dangerous when weather or road conditions are adverse. If you're driving in snow or heavy rain, for instance, increase your distance to follow.
Make sure to check your rear-view mirror frequently to avoid a rear-end collision. This will depend on the volume of the road ahead of you. This will let you know if the driver behind you is slowing down or applying the brakes.
Another good habit to adopt is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or getting out of parking spaces. This will enable the driver behind you see your vehicle and stop them from turning into their direction to hit you.
Always ensure that children are in the back of the vehicle when you travel with them. This will stop them from running around the vehicle, or becoming confused and distracted while driving.
It is recommended to keep your phone off the road while driving and refrain from using it to distract you. Talking or texting on the phone can be a key cause of rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine in your car is one of the most crucial components for you as a motorist However, it can be frustrating. If you're involved in an accident, your vehicle's engine might not start after you turn the key or press START.
The issue is difficult to fix or diagnose, so you should take your vehicle to the mechanic as soon as the light comes on. The lights will illuminate if your car has a problem in the areas of battery, temperature, alternator, or any other part of the.
If you're having trouble getting your car started after a minor accident it could be because of a tripped inertial switch that cuts off power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This switch is designed to prevent your car from catching fire in the event of a collision, but can also damage the engine if it is tripped.
Another reason you might not be not able to start your car after an accident is that the crash could have caused your car's transmission to stop working properly. In this scenario, you will require a professional to determine what caused the issue and then fix it.
Even if you have a healthy engine however, it's important to run it every once in the course of time to ensure it's properly lubricated and running. This can be done by gently turning on the engine and letting it warm for about 30 minutes or so.
houston auto accident attorneys can use this time to check all the belts, hoses and air cleaners in your vehicle to ensure they're functioning properly. This will increase your gas mileage and keep your vehicle operating smoothly.
It's also a great method 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 an accident involving a blowout of your tire or other damage.