It’s scary to find yourself in the middle of an accident. It’s hard to know what to do when you see other people on the road who need help because there are such a lot of things at play – how fast is the traffic, will they stop for you, where are you? The first step is all the time safety, the quicker you get out of danger, the easier it’s to think. If you can drive safely, do so – but if not, try these tips to stay safe and out of harm’s way.
Fasten your seat belt
Not fastening your seat belt can make you more dangerous than most anything. Many people think that seat belts are only necessary when they’re driving on the highway – but anytime you are in the car, you should wear them. Most accidents occur at low speeds, but if your car flips over or rolls over, it could be the difference between walking away with just a few bruises and being in intensive care. Of all car accident case what attorneys do, the worst ones are normally related to someone not wearing a seat belt. So, wearing a seat belt is not necessarily an accident prevention tactic, but rather a death prevention tactic.
Don’t Drive Disturbed
Distractions are everywhere – from eating to fiddling with the radio, to putting on makeup while you are driving. All of these items are just distractions that can keep you from being fully aware of what is going on around you on the road. Make sure your phone is out of sight and unlocked so you do not even want to reach for it when you see an incoming message, or order food at the drive-thru rather than through the window yourself. After all, someone else takes less time to get them to your car!
Keep Your Phone Away
This is more for if you drive because distracted driving is the number one reason for car accidents. It’s really hard to focus on what’s happening on the road while you are also processing a phone call, text message, social media updates, and e-mail. Often people try to multitask by doing all of these items directly – but that only makes things worse. If you are going to try and talk on the phone, pull over to a parking area or someplace where you can park and focus on the conversation.
Don’t Drink And Drive
Another major reason for accidents is drunk driving. It’s illegal in most places, but that does not stop people from getting behind the wheel when they’ve too much to drink. If you plan on having one alcoholic drink, ensure you do not drive for at least an hour after finishing it. Otherwise, leave your car at home and take a taxi or call an Uber. This also means that you should also keep away from drugs, as they may have the same effect.
Slow Down And Stay Alert
It’s easy to get caught up in how fast things are going while driving because of how fast you can get places. However, the faster you drive, the more likely you are to crash into something, whether it is another car or a deer that jumps across your path. Pay attention to the road and bear in mind of what is going on around you – if something looks suspicious or dangerous, watch out to slow down.
If an Accident Occurs
Once you are out of danger, the perfect thing to do is try to stay calm. Sometimes, this is less complicated said than done – but staying calm will let you remember important details that you might forget if you get too shaken up. Taking notes or taking pictures is also useful so that you can provide law enforcement officials with as much information as possible when reporting the accident. Getting into an accident can be scary, but hopefully these tips help make it less scary.
While it can be scary to have an accident, taking the required precautions beforehand can make it a lot less scary, and stop the accident altogether. Make sure you all the time wear your seat belt, do not drive distractedly, keep your phone away while driving, do not drink and drive, do not drive under the influence of drugs, slow down and stay aware of what is going on around you. road, and in the event of an accident, try to stay calm so you can gather all the relevant information.
