What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident A car crash can have devastating effects. It can lead to loss of income, benefits and significant out-of-pocket costs. If you're a victim in an auto accident or who's watching one, there are a variety of actions you can take to ensure your safety and aid others. Avoid distractions If you're distracted when driving, it can have a dramatic impact on your safety as well as that of others. Some of the most common distractions include eating, texting, and grooming. If distracted drivers are involved in an accident, it can cause serious injuries and even death for those around them. This is because distracted driving can cause drivers to disregard dangers and unexpected complications that are right in front of them, or to ignore important road signs. Distractions may be anything that distracts a driver's attention away from the road and can cause them to lose control. They can be physical as well as cognitive, manual or both and each has its own distinctive characteristics. Visual distractions are the things that distract drivers' eyes from the road, for example, using a GPS or looking at a billboard, or rubbernecking during an accident. This could be risky particularly when the driver is driving at highway speeds while passing other vehicles or pedestrians. Manual distractions can be harmful, especially when drivers are not paying attention to the road and do not react quickly enough. While driving, eating can be extremely distracting or even changing the radio station or searching for something behind the car. Cognitive distractions are not as obvious but just as deadly category of distractions. They could be a result of using the phone and singing, as well as thinking about a stressful situation. They could also be signs of drowsiness that can make it difficult for drivers to concentrate on the road. Set up good boundaries and practice attentive drive to avoid distractions while driving. This can be accomplished by living by example and setting rules that restrict the time spent on screens. It is important to remember that driving distracted is an issue for everyone, not just teens and drivers who are new. Even pets, older people and drivers who are tired could be distractions while driving. If you know someone 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 stop this from happening. You can also encourage your friend to shut off their phone and put it on do-not-disturb mode while they drive. Beware of Your Distance Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you is one of the most important actions you can take to ensure your car's safety. This will prevent an accident and protect you and those around you from injury or death. There are many ways to make sure you're driving at the right distance. One way is to use the 3-second rule. It's a simple calculation that can help you determine if you're following too closely. The 3-second rule is based upon the fact that you'll need around three seconds to react if another vehicle brakes suddenly. If you're too close to the vehicle in front of you it won't give you enough time to stop safely in case a collision happens. This is particularly the case for truck drivers, who require plenty of room to safely stop when approaching a traffic stop. Many accidents involving semis or large rigs occur because drivers fail to follow this road rule, which can lead to grave injuries or even deaths for all involved. You can also estimate the distance you must follow a vehicle by calculating the time it takes you to reach a particular place after the car in the front has passed it. This can be done by watching the car advance as it passes an overhead sign, a tree or any other roadside markers. Continue counting. Once you've determined the time it will take your vehicle to get to that spot after another vehicle has passed, start counting. Begin counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000 and then 31,000 until you attain a gap of three seconds between you and the car in front. If you can't reach three seconds in an uninterrupted row, gradually increase the distance you follow until you do. This could mean slowing down to avoid a crash but it's definitely worth the effort. The most frequent rear-end collisions happen when drivers follow the vehicle ahead of them too closely. You can avoid collisions by extending your distance of following. Avoiding Rear End Collisions Rear-end collisions are among the most frequent types of auto accidents. According to auto accident attorney sacramento -end collisions are responsible for almost a third of all accidents and cause around 2,000 deaths per year in the United States. While front-end collisions are more fatal, rear end collisions can result in serious injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions can also result in whiplash-like injuries to soft tissues, for example. These injuries can cause drivers to suffer severe pain and discomfort in the neck, shoulder, and back areas. They may require physical therapy, medical bills and lost wages to heal from. Keep your distance from other vehicles to avoid an accident. This means you must be following them at a reasonable speed and not lag behind them. Driving too closely can increase the risk of a rear-end crash because you won't have enough time to see and respond to dangers, such as slow or stopped traffic the front of you. The National Safety Council recommends that passengers maintain a three second minimum following distance, and larger vehicles even more. Rear-end collisions are particularly dangerous when road or weather conditions are threatening. If you're driving in heavy snow or rain for instance, increase your following distance. To avoid a rear-end collision, check your rearview mirror frequently depending on how congested the traffic ahead of you. This will let you know whether the car in front of you is accelerating or applying the brakes. Use your turn signals to change lanes or pull out of a lot. This will help the driver behind you to see your car and stop them from turning into their path to hit you. If you are traveling in a car with children, ensure that they are in the back of the vehicle. This will prevent children from moving around in the vehicle, or becoming confused and distracted while driving. It is also a great idea to put your phone away and not use it while driving. Disturbing conversations on the phone or texting may result in rear-end collisions. Keep Your Engine Running The engine of your vehicle could be among 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 notice that the engine of your car won't start when you turn the key. The issue isn't easy to fix or diagnose, so you should take your vehicle in as soon as the light comes on. The lights will alert you when there's a problem with the battery, alternator and temperature, as well as other parts of your car that need attention. If you're having trouble starting your car after a minor crash, it could be the result of a tripped inertial switch which shuts off power to your vehicle's fuel pump. This is intended to safeguard your vehicle from catching on fire in the event of an accident however, it could also cause damage to your engine if it gets shut off. You may not be able start your car following an accident due to the fact that your vehicle's engine transmission has stopped functioning properly. In this case, you'll need to seek the help of an expert mechanic to determine the cause of the issue, and then fix it before you can begin your car again. Even if you have a healthy car it is vital to run the engine every often to make sure that it is properly lubricated. This can be accomplished by gently turning on the engine and letting it warm for 30 seconds or more. When you do this, you're taking an opportunity to examine all of your vehicle's hoses and belts, air cleaners and other components to ensure they are in good operating condition. This will improve your gas mileage and keep your vehicle running smoothly. It's also a great method to make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Properly inflated tires will enable them to take on the road more effectively and decrease the chance of a blowout or other damage.
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