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What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident A car accident can be a traumatic event. It can involve loss of income and benefits, large cost out of pocket, and severe injuries that require a long-term treatment. If you're the victim of an auto accident or who is witnessing one, there are a variety of things you can do to ensure your safety and aid others. Avoiding Distractions If you're distracted when driving, it could be a major risk to your safety and that of others. Some of the most common distractions include texting, eating and grooming. Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or death to the people near them. This is because distracted driving could cause drivers to disregard dangers and unexpected issues right in front of them, or to overlook important road signs. Distractions can be anything that diverts a driver's attention from the road and causes them to lose control. They can be either visual as well as cognitive, manual or both and each type has its own distinctive characteristics. Visual distractions can distract drivers' eyes from the road, for example, using a GPS, looking at a billboard, or rubbernecking during an accident. It can be dangerous, especially if the driver is driving at highway speeds, and passing other vehicles or pedestrians. Manual distractions can also be risky, particularly when drivers fail to pay attention to the road, or do not react quickly. Eating while driving can be a major distraction as can switching the radio station or searching for something behind the car. Cognitive distractions are a less obvious but just as deadly category of distractions. These can be distractions like conversations on a cell phone or singing or thinking about an emotionally charged situation. They can also be indications of drowsiness and make it hard for a driver to remain focused on the road. Set boundaries and practice attentive driving to be aware of distractions while driving. This can be done by living by example and setting rules to limit screen time. It's important to keep in mind that everyone is at risk for being distracted by a driver, and it's certainly not just teens or new drivers. Older drivers, tired drivers and even pets can all be potential distractions when driving. If you know someone who is susceptible to distraction while driving, make sure to speak with them about the importance of keeping their attention on the road and how to stop this from happening. You can also help your friend to switch off their mobile and put it on “do-not-disturb” mode while they are driving. Keeping Your Distance One of the most important actions you can take to ensure your car is safe when driving is to keep a safe distance between yourself and any vehicle in front of you. This will prevent a collision and protect the people around you from injury or death. There are several methods to ensure that you're keeping the proper distance when driving. One option is to utilize the 3-second rule, which is a an easy calculation that will aid in determining if you're following too closely. The 3-second rule is based on the fact that it takes around three seconds to respond when a vehicle suddenly brakes. If you are too close to the car ahead of you, it will be difficult to stop safely. This is particularly true for truck drivers, who need plenty of space to safely brake when approaching an end. This rule of the road is often neglected by drivers, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. You can also determine the distance you need to follow a vehicle by calculating the time it takes to reach a particular location after the vehicle in the front has passed by it. You can do this by finding an overhead road sign, tree, or any other roadside marker, and observing the car in front of you pass it. Once you've determined how long it takes for your vehicle to arrive at the spot when the other vehicle passes it, continue counting. Start counting 1-1,000, 2-1,000, and finally, 3-1,000, until you reach the gap of three seconds between you and the car ahead of you. If you're not able to achieve three seconds, then increase your following distance gradually until you get there. It could require a slowing 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 of them. You can avoid these collisions as well as others by increasing the distance you follow. Avoiding Rear End Collisions Rear-end collisions are amongst most frequent types of auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rear-end collisions are responsible for almost a third of all accidents and result in 2,000 deaths each year in the United States. While front-end collisions are more dangerous, rear-end collisions are still a significant cause of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions are also prone to a range of soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash. These injuries can cause significant discomfort in the back, neck and shoulder regions. These injuries often require physical therapy, medical expenses and lost wages in order to recover. Keep your distance from other cars to avoid an accident. This means following behind them at a safe speed and not following them. Driving too fast could increase your risk of a rear-end collision as you won't have the time to react to dangers, like slower or stopped traffic front of you. The National Safety Council recommends that passenger cars maintain a three-second minimum distance to follow and larger vehicles more. If the weather or road conditions are bad, rear-end collisions are more dangerous. If you're driving through heavy snow or rain, for instance, increase your distance to follow. To avoid the possibility of a rear-end crash, make sure to check your rear-view mirror regularly depending on how congested the traffic ahead of you. This will allow you to determine if the driver behind you is slowing down or applying the brakes. Another good habit to have is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or taking a car out of parking lots. www.accidentinjurylawyers.claims helps the driver behind you be aware of your vehicle and prevent them from swerving out of their lane to strike you. Keep children in the back of the car when you are traveling with them. This will keep them from bouncing around the vehicle or becoming disoriented and distracted while you are driving. It is also a great idea to put your phone away and avoid using it while driving. Texting or talking on the phone texting can cause rear-end collisions. Keep Your Engine Running The engine in your car may be among the most crucial components for you as a driver, however it could be also one of the most frustrating parts. In the case of an accident, you may notice that the engine of your car won't start when you turn the key. The issue is difficult to diagnose or fix Therefore, you should bring your car in as quickly when the light appears. The lights will be alerted when your car is experiencing issues in the areas of battery temperature, temperature alternator or in any other area. If you're having trouble getting your car to start after an accident it could be the result of a tripped inertial switch that cuts off power to the vehicle's fuel pump. This is designed to shield your car from catching fire in the event of an impact but it can also cause damage to your engine if activated. It is possible that you won't be able to start your car following an accident due to the fact that your vehicle's engine transmission isn't working properly. In this case you'll need assistance from an expert mechanic to pinpoint the cause of the issue and fix it before you can begin your car again. Even if you own a well-maintained car, it is important to run the engine often to make sure that it's properly lubricated. This can be done by turning the engine on gently and waiting for it to warm for 30 minutes. When you do this, you're gaining the opportunity to inspect all your vehicle's belts, hoses, air cleaners, and other components to ensure they are in good working order. This will increase your gas mileage and keep your vehicle operating smoothly. This is also a great method to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires will enable them to take on the road more effectively and reduce the risk of a blowout, or any other damage.