Car accidents cause many injuries and deaths every year. Although there have been many improvements to automobile safety features over the years, The United States has had the highest car crash death rates in the developed world. The CDC attributed America’s use of alcohol, proclivity for speeding, and reluctance to use seat belts as the cause of many of its accident rates. The use of cell phones while driving can also cause accidents.
Changing your behavior is the best way to avoid accidents. Following basic traffic laws, Keeping a clear head and your eyes on the road can help prevent many an accident.
Put Your Phone Down
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data indicates that 53,714 people died because of distracted driving between 2005 and 2017. All states in the country have some kind of distracted driving law.
Oregon has the strictest laws. A person can get a $1000 fine for the first offense of texting while driving. The state of Illinois can give you as many as 10 points on your driver’s license if you take your eyes off the road to post that meme or GIF.
Although there are some text messages and phone calls that can be important, they should certainly be able to wait until you can pull over to the side of the road.
Buckle Your Seatbelt
Although a seatbelt may cramp your style a bit, wearing one is the easiest way to lessen the impact of an accident. Seat belts have been established to reduce the chance of death by almost 50 percent.
Obey the Speed Limit
Americans live in a fast-paced society and it can be tempting to speed to get where you are going in a hurry. However, speed limits are not only set so the city can raise revenue with ticket payments, they are also set to help avoid accidents.
Speed limits are set when the government conducts speed studies. There may be times when you have to speed up to match the flow of traffic, but it is never a good idea to go over the limit just to get to work or soccer practice on time.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Even though you may feel perfectly alert after having a drink or two, alcohol is a depressant and it can slow down a person’s reaction time. it is always a good idea to appoint one person as a designated driver when you go out or call for a cab or a rideshare service. Many people die in alcohol-related accidents each year. You will keep yourself and others safe and help prevent the possibility of a big ticket.
What to do if You are Injured
If you are injured in an accident, you should always call the police and wait for them to arrive. You should exchange insurance information with the other driver and get the names of any witnesses at the scene. Go to the doctor’s as soon as possible and report the accident to your insurance company.
Be sure to enlist the help of a law firm that specializes in personal injury law such as lawyers Hipskind and McAninch. A personal injury attorney can negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf and get you the settlement to which you are entitled.
Authoritative Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/07/health/us-highest-crash-death-rate/
Comments