As California car accident lawyers, on a daily basis we are told tales of terrible accidents that could have easily been prevented. Although not all accidents can be prevented, you can reduce your likelihood of being at fault for an injury accident by following simple steps to pay attention and operate your vehicle more safely.
Don't Drive While Distracted
Driver distraction or inattention is a factor in more than 90% of accidents. Collisions often happen at the instant someone stops paying attention. Checking your appearance in the rear-view mirror, reaching to answer your phone, sending a text message, trying to read directions, or even looking at another accident are just a few of the ways injury accidents happen. Pay attention and remember, multi-tasking while driving is not worth your life or anyone else's. If you need to make a phone call, have a snack, read directions, or send a text message, take an extra minute to do so with your car safely stopped and out of moving traffic.
Don't Drive Too Fast
There is a reason the roads we drive have mandated speed limits – driving at safe speeds reduces accidents and saves lives. You should be familiar with the speed limits for your normal driving routes – to work, to school and other places you frequently go. Whenever you drive, it is important to factor in weather conditions in addition to knowing the speed limit. Driving the same speed as posted limits in heavy rain or snow is not advisable. Driving too fast decreases your reaction time. You may be unable to stop your car in time to avoid striking an object in the road, a young child, animal, or pedestrian. By making an effort to drive within the posted speed limits at all times, you can reduce your risk of causing an accident.
Never Drink and Drive
Never drive when you are impaired, intoxicated, or under the influence. Don't drive when you're drunk, excessively fatigued, or for any other reason unable to control your vehicle. The consequences of driving drunk – breaking the law, incarceration, paying a hefty fine, being killed or killing another person – are simply not worth the price of taking a taxi home or spending the night at a hotel. Similarly, don't get into the car with a driver who should not be driving. If you want to arrive alive, do not drink and drive.
Always Take the Time to Buckle Up
Seat belts do not prevent accidents or collisions themselves, but they do prevent some injuries and they do save lives. There is never any excuse for not taking a second to buckle up. People are ejected through windshields more often then you might think. Ejection always results in serious injury or more often, death. Seatbelts help keep you restrained in the vehicle upon collision and prevent injuries associated with being thrown through the windows during a collision or rollover. Safety advocates say that seat belts save 9,000 lives per year. When you are driving, make sure your passengers buckle up as well.
