10 Ways to Avoid Car Accidents
Oct. 21, 2020
If you have a long commute for work or travel along an Interstate every day, then chances are you see car accidents on a regular basis. A study released in May show that seatbelt usage fluctuates from state to state, and that belting up continues to be a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents in the U.S., according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
An estimated 9,500 fatalities occurred in 1999 due to the driver or passenger in a motor vehicle not buckling up, according to the NSC. With more drivers on the road than any time in history, it’s important to follow the advice of safety experts and follow these 10 ways to avoid car accidents.
10 Ways to Avoid Car Accidents
10 Ways to Avoid Car Accidents | Denver Car Accident Attorney
Here’s are top 10 suggestions for avoiding car accidents:
Merge into traffic slowly – Be sure you follow traffic laws, and look both ways in traffic and listen before merging into traffic. Be aware of your vehicle’s blind spots and have a way to check them by either moving your head and looking in a rear-view mirror. Motor vehicles can often appear seemingly out of nowhere, especially in urban area where motorists are always in a hurry to get where they are going. Just use extreme caution before entering the roadway.
Avoid Red Light Runners – One good method to gauge when it’s safe to enter an intersection, is to count to three after a light has turned green before entering the intersection. Likewise, be careful when making a maneuver around semi-trucks. Trucks notoriously have very large blind spots, and if you can’t see their side mirrors, then they can’t see you either.
Keep Your Hands on the Wheel – At the very least always have one hand on your steering wheel. When driving, your sole focus should be on driving, not changing the music channel or calling and texting friends. When there are extreme wind situations in your area or you have a blown tire, you can immediately lose control of your vehicle.
Keep an Eye Out for Children – Children are notorious for appearing from out of nowhere in traffic. They can be riding skateboards or bikes that they are unfamiliar with sometimes, which leads them to make mistakes and enter the roadways when we least expect it. Whenever you drive through residential areas, always make a concerted effort to keep watchful eye out for kids and drive slowly.
Keep Your Vehicle Maintained – Keeping your vehicle properly maintained will help you cut down on the potential for unexpected stalls and other vehicle problems. Also, make sure your tires are always properly inflated and get rotated regularly.
Keep a Safe Distance Between Cars – The rule of thumb is to keep approximately 10-to-12 seconds between yourself and the car in front of you. On interstate highways, keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you so that you have plenty of distance to make driving corrections – whether it’s hitting the brakes or just changing lanes.
Be Safe When Backing Out – Too many people take driving for granted and don’t pull out properly, especially in parking lots. Never rely just on rear-view mirrors only, check your blind spots by looking over your shoulder.
No Tailgating – Always give the car in front of you a comfortable distance between your vehicles. The three second rule comes into play here. At the very least, give the car in front of you’re a three second head start to get out in front of you before driving on at a traffic light.
Be Polite and Courteous Towards Other Drivers – We all pay taxes and need to share the roads responsibly. So, be courteous and respectful of all other drivers as well. Don’t engage in road rage, but rather drop any grievance you might have with another driver, so as to not escalate any unwanted confrontation. Alert authorities, if you discover a drunk driver or any other illegal activity.
Contact a Denver Car Accident Attorney at the Law Office of James H. Guest, LLC
Have you received whiplash or any other injury as a result of a car accident caused by another driver? If so, contact a Denver Car Accident Attorney at the Law Office of James H. Guest, LLC to help you build a strong case for recovery from your injuries. James H. Guest is known for providing comprehensive legal representation to the victims of negligence. Likewise, our attorneys are thoroughly knowledgeable about recovering fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses related to your injuries.
Contact the Law Office of James H. Guest by calling or by emailing him using the form on this page. His staff can schedule a free initial consultation so you can learn about the firm’s services.