What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident

A car crash can be a traumatic event. It could result in loss of income, benefits and significant out-of-pocket costs.

Whether you're the victim of an auto accident or who's witnessing one, there are many actions you can take to ensure your safety and aid others.

Avoid Distractions

Distracted driving has a huge impact on your safety as well as that of other drivers. The most frequent distractions include eating, texting and grooming.

If distracted drivers are involved in an accident, it can cause serious injuries and deaths for the people in their vicinity. Drivers who are distracted may ignore road signs and hazards or fail to notice unexpected issues.

Distractions are anything that diverts the attention of a driver away from the road and causes them to lose control of their vehicle. They can be either visual or manual and each type has its own unique characteristics.

Visual distractions are things that distract a driver's attention from the road. Examples include using a GPS or reading a signboard or rubbernecking an accident. This can be dangerous particularly when the driver is driving at highway speeds, and passing pedestrians or other vehicles.

Manual distractions can also be extremely harmful, particularly when drivers aren't paying attention to the road and do not react quickly enough. Consuming food while driving, changing the radio station or reaching for something in the backseat can be very distracting.

Cognitive distractions can be just as harmful as other distractions. These can be distractions like talking on a phone or singing or pondering an emotional situation. They could also be signs of drowsiness. This can make it difficult for drivers to remain focused on the road.

Set up good boundaries and practice attentive driving to avoid distractions while driving. You can accomplish this by establishing rules and leading by example.

It's important to remember that everyone is at risk for being a distracted driver and it's not only teens or new drivers. Even pets, older drivers and motorists who are sleepy can cause distractions while driving.

If you know someone who is prone to distracted driving, make sure to talk with them about the importance of keeping their focus to the road and how to prevent this from happening. You can also advise your friend to turn off their phone and put it on "do-not-disturb" mode while they are driving.

Keep Your Distance

One of the most important ways to ensure your car is safe while driving is to maintain an appropriate distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This can prevent a collision and protect you and others in the vicinity from injury and death.

There are numerous ways you can ensure that you're driving at the right distance. One option is to utilize the 3-second rule. It's a simple calculation that can aid you in determining if you're following too closely.

The 3-second rule is based on the fact that it takes approximately three seconds to react in the event that another vehicle suddenly stops. 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 safely in case a collision happens.

This is especially the case for truck drivers, who require plenty space to safely stop when approaching the traffic stop. This rule of the road is often ignored by drivers, which can result in serious injuries, and sometimes fatalities.

You can also estimate the distance you have to follow a vehicle by calculating the time it takes to reach a certain place after the car in the front has passed it. This can be accomplished by watching the car in advance of an overhead sign, tree or any other roadside marker.

Count again. Once you've decided the time it will take your top car accident lawyers to reach that location after another vehicle has passed, start counting. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000, and then 31,000 until you've reached three seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you.

If you can't reach three seconds in one row and you're not able to do that, gradually increase your distance to follow until you reach. This may involve slowing down to avoid the risk of crashing but it's worth the extra effort.

The most frequent rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow the vehicle ahead of them too closely. By increasing your following distance and using the 3-second rule, you can avoid these accidents as well as other collisions that could cause serious damage to your vehicle and those in the vicinity.

Avoiding Rear End Collisions

Rear-end collisions are among the most common auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions account for nearly a third all accidents and cause the death of 2,000 people each year in the United States.

Although front-end collisions are far more risky, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can also cause soft-tissue injuries such as whiplash.

These accidents could cause drivers to be afflicted with severe pain and discomfort in the neck, shoulder and back areas. These injuries usually require physical therapy, medical expenses and lost wages in order to recover.

The best method to avoid rear-end collisions is to stay away from other vehicles. This means you should follow them at a safe speed and not to tailgate them.

There is a higher risk of rear-end collisions by driving too close. This is due to the fact that you won't have enough time to react to dangers such as slower or stopped traffic. The National Safety Council recommends that drivers maintain a three-second minimum following distance and larger vehicles more.

When road or weather conditions are not ideal rear-end collisions are more risky. If you're driving in extreme rain or snow for instance, you should increase your following distance and exercise extra care.

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 whether the car in front of you is slowing down or applying the brakes.

Another good practice is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or taking a car out of parking lots. This will help the driver behind you be aware of your vehicle and prevent them from swerving out of their lane to cause a collision with you.

If you're travelling in a vehicle with children, ensure that they are in the back of the vehicle. This will stop them from running around the vehicle, or becoming disoriented and distracting while you are driving.

It's also a good idea to put your phone away and avoid using it while driving. Talking or texting on the phone could be a major contributing factor in rear-end collisions.

Keep Your Engine Running

The engine in your car is one of the most vital components for you as a driver however, it can also be frustrating. In the event of an accident, you may discover that your car's engine will not start when you turn the key.

This isn't a problem that's simple to spot and fix, so it's best attorney car accident to take your vehicle to a mechanic immediately after the check engine light turns on. The lights will inform you that there's an issue with the battery, alternator and temperature, as well as other parts of your car that need attention.

If you're having difficulty starting your car after an accident of a minor nature, it could be due to a tripped switch that cuts off power to the fuel pump. This switch is designed to prevent your vehicle from catching fire in the case of a collision, but can also damage the engine if it is tripped.

You might not be able to start your car following an accident car lawyer, because your vehicle's engine's transmission has stopped working properly. In this instance, you will have to talk to a mechanic to determine what caused the issue and fix it.

Even if your car accidents attorney near me has an engine that is in good condition is still necessary to check it out once a while to make sure that it's lubricated properly and is working. This can be accomplished by turning the engine and letting it warm for 30 minutes or as long.

When you do this, you're gaining the chance to check all of your vehicle's hoses, belts, air cleaners, and other components to ensure they're in good operating condition. This will improve the efficiency of your vehicle and ensure that your vehicle is running smoothly.

It's also a great way to ensure that your tires are at the right pressure. Properly filled tires will enable them to grip the road more effectively and reduce the chance of a blowout, or any other damage.