Car accidents are a major cause of personal injury cases in people of all ages.
From children to older adults, many suffer pain from broken bones, spinal injuries, concussions, strains, and even burns after being in an accident. They also often suffer emotional pain recovering from their injuries and financial stress paying for their medical bills. So how are these car accidents caused? And what can you do to protect yourself?
1. Speeding. When drivers don’t obey traffic signs (such as posted speed limits), they run the risk of smashing into others. They might also skid out around turns or be going too fast to notice other pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists on the road. When drivers speed, they are knowingly violating traffic laws and putting others at risk. Make sure to obey traffic laws and look both ways at intersections to watch for drivers who might be speeding through lights or signs.
2.Running Red Lights and Stop Signs. There are some drivers who take extreme risks and put others in danger. Believe it or not, they try to race stoplights and get through an intersection after lights have turned red, before other cars start through. The problem is that they are breaking the law and might crash into drivers who don’t even see them coming. T-bone accidents are some of the worst kinds and can leave others seriously and even fatally injured. Drivers who run red lights and stop signs could injure pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other drivers. There isn’t much you can do to protect yourself from this type of reckless driver, aside from looking both ways at intersections before proceeding and being aware of vehicles surrounding you.
3. Drunk Driving. People who drink and drive are knowingly breaking the law and recklessly putting others at risk. They choose to drive home after drinking instead of calling a cab, riding a bus, or asking a designated driver to take them home. They are getting behind the wheel impaired, with limited vision, reflexes, and judgment. Drunk driving often causes serious consequences and can result in injury or death to other drivers. It’s impossible to protect yourself from drunk drivers, since drunk driving can occur at all hours of the day and on all roads. If you see a vehicle acting strangely, keep a safe distance, pull over, and dial 911 to report it.
4. Distracted Driving. This means a driver is not paying attention to the road. They could be violating cellphone laws (such as texting while driving) or they could be leaning over and reaching for something instead of keeping both hands on the wheel. There have also been incidents where a driver was putting on makeup. Distracted drivers are much less likely to notice smaller vehicles, such as motorcycles and bicycles. This puts everyone around them at risk, and unfortunately, there is not much you can do to avoid distracted drivers.
5. Tailgating. People who follow the vehicles in front of them too closely are more likely to have a rear-end collision and seriously injure themselves and others. It’s important to leave space between your car and the vehicle in front of you. While it’s difficult to protect yourself from these types of drivers, you can slow down and make a lane change and let them pass if they are following too closely.
6. Potholes. Road damage can throw your car out of your lane or cause enough damage to where you can’t control the car. When this happens, it can injure you, your passengers, and even others around you. Roads should be properly maintained and marked, so on a bumpy road, look around and proceed with caution.
If you are injured in a car accident, regardless of how it was caused, you should get professional help from The Husband and Wife Law Team at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., immediately. They can help determine from police reports who was at fault and who might be responsible for your medical bills and other expenses.