All posts tagged avoiding auto accidents

Auto Accidents: How to Do Your Best to Avoid Them

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/01/06 in On the Road with Comments Off on Auto Accidents: How to Do Your Best to Avoid Them

One of the best ways to avoid accidents is to drive defensively. You never know what crazy things can happen on the road. That is why it is essential for you to always be focused and alert. Luckily, when you pay attention and anticipate the moves of other drivers, you can avoid them when they do something dangerous.

Scan Ahead

If you can see ahead of the car in front of you, it’ll be easier to avoid an accident if they slam on their brakes. This leaves you time to maneuver your own vehicle to avoid hitting the person in front of you. By doing this you can avoid so many accidents and help keep you and your family safe.

Blind Spots

While your side and rear view mirror can give you a view of what’s behind or beside you, there are blind spots that will leave you vulnerable. Turn in your seat to see what’s behind or beside you before switching lanes. Be aware of where you are in other people’s blind spots too.

Condition of the Other Car

If you see a car with dents all over it, you’ll likely want to avoid that car. It’s the outward sign of a bad driver, or one who doesn’t care. It’s like a neon sign that you should be watching that driver closely too. Just be sure to pay attention to the cars around you so that you can be aware of what’s going on around you.

Driving at Night

While there might be less traffic at night, so it seems like a better time to travel. It’s actually more dangerous. You have your own vision limitations at night as well as the decreased visibility available to other drivers. People out late at night might be joyriding kids or people leaving bars who have had too much to drink.

Safety on the Wet Roadway

While hydroplaning means you have no control of the vehicle, you can help avoid the condition in the first place if you slow down while the roads are wet. The car’s tires can’t get purchase on the road when it’s wet. Don’t slam on your brakes when hydroplaning either. It can make the situation worse.

Parking Lot Accidents

Be aware of your surroundings as well as the width of your vehicle when pulling in or out of a parking space. Leave enough room next to you for the other car’s doors to open. You might even want to park away from other vehicles to avoid damage.

While you can’t avoid all car accidents, some are avoidable if you’re aware of your surroundings. Always be aware of other cars on the road. Don’t rely on your mirrors since they have blind spots, and drive slowly when dealing with hazardous roadway conditions. If you get into an accident, a lawyer like Steve W. Sumner, Attorney at Law can help you. Getting professional help can really help make you feel better and relieve a lot of stress. This is also a good reminder that you are never alone.

Six Dangerous Driving Habits That Can Lead to Serious Injury

by Anita Ginsburg on 2015/02/13 in Auto Accident with Comments Off on Six Dangerous Driving Habits That Can Lead to Serious Injury

Many drivers today have adopted rather dangerous driving habits. In order to drive safely, it is necessary to keep your eyes and ears focused toward the road and your surroundings. However, many drivers participate in dangerous activities that pull their attention away from the road when they are behind the wheel. This can result in serious injury to the driver, passengers and others outside of your own vehicle. Here are some of the more dangerous driving habits that drivers may have.

Texting

When you text with your cellphone or smartphone, you inevitably are using at least one of your hands to text. Your eyes may dart back and forth between the road and your phone. In addition, your attention is focused on your phone rather than entirely on the road. This is a dangerous habit, and some areas have already made it illegal to text while driving.

Talking on the Phone

Just as texting and driving can be dangerous, the same holds true for talking on the phone and driving. When you talk on the phone, you may have one hand on your phone, and you may not be listening to the sounds of the road that may alert you to dangers around you. Even hands-free talking may be dangerous because you are not fully engaged in the activity of operating the vehicle.

Eating

There seems to be an almost endless number of fast food restaurants available to choose from, making it easy for drivers to pick up food to eat as they cruise down the road. However, this activity also pulls your attention away from the road, and it often requires one or even two hands to complete. More than that, some foods may drip or spill, which can cause further distraction.

Putting on Make-Up

Some women will take a moment while driving to touch up make-up while they are traveling to a location. In some cases, women will apply all of their make-up for the day while commuting to work. This requires the woman to look in the mirror, use hands to apply the make-up ad focus on herself rather than the road.

Shaving

Likewise, some men have adopted the habit of using an automatic or electric razor to touch up their shaving efforts in the car. This also requires the use of one hand, and it places attention on a mirror and the man’s face rather than the road. In addition, there is a sound from the electric razor that can drown out the sounds of the road that the driver needs to be paying attention to.

Smoking

Smoking is a very common habit for drivers, but it can be incredibly dangerous. Smoking requires the driver to use a flame to light a cigarette and to hold that lit cigarette for several minutes of time. The driver is essentially holding a lit object rather than putting both hands on the wheel. In addition, ashes from the cigarette can drop down onto the driver or the car, and this can be a serious distraction.

These are all dangerous habits that can result in serious injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to someone else’s neglect, but sure to talk to a lawyer for the best outcome.

Informational credit to Bronson Jones & Co.