How to Decrease Your Chances of Being in a Car Accident
When getting out onto the road in your vehicle, it would be nice to know that all other drivers are going to be operating their car in a safe manner. Unfortunately, as a car accident lawyer in Glendale, WI knows, that is not often the case as not every person drives with care when sharing the road. You can only be in control of yourself. So, when venturing either to work, an errand, to visit family or friends there are ways you can help prevent an accident from happening to you. While we cannot guarantee a collision won’t happen, we can take all efforts possible to greatly decrease our chances.
What is the biggest contributor to car accidents?
Perhaps the number one reason why people get into car accidents in today’s society is due to distraction. Our cell phones are more glued to our hands than ever before, and we may be tempted to use it while behind the wheel. These handy tools have become our main source of communication, entertainment, directions and more. Cell phones can easily become a dangerous distraction if it were to beep or ring while we are behind the wheel. We may reach for the phone after receiving a text or email without thinking much of it, because checking our phones has become such an automatic response.
What can help a driver practice being less distracted while driving?
The larger issue about distractions could be that we live in such a fast-paced world that when our mind is not occupied for a certain period of time, we may feel the urge for quick entertainment. This may be why checking a phone or playing a game even while sitting at a red light may be tempting. Here are ways you can start to practice being less distracted while driving:
- Place your phone in the glove compartment while driving (on silent or off).
- If you are in the middle of a text or email conversation, let the other person know you are about to drive so you do not feel pressure to respond quickly.
- Practice mindfulness while driving (observe your surroundings with attention & alertness to help prevent daydreaming).
- Never wear headphones, as this can greatly hinder your ability to hear potential threats on the roadway.
- If you are mentally bored, listen to a podcast or audiobook to stimulate your mind.
What are common injuries of a car collision?
Depending on the severity of the accident, the human body may suffer from a wide variety of injuries. The luckiest of those may walk away with no injuries at all. While others may endure broken bones, lacerations, head trauma, crushed extremities, and more. If you are ever in a car accident, it is highly recommended that you get medical attention right away. Injuries may not be felt or observed until hours or days after the crash. A doctor can perform an evaluation, run diagnostics to determine which areas of your body have suffered the most damage, and create an appropriate treatment plan.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Hickey & Turim, S.C. for their insight into auto accident laws.
