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Car accidents are an unfortunate part of our everyday lives, whether you live in a large metropolis or small town. People are almost always the cause of these accidents; and unfortunately, accidents can result in significant injuries and even worse, fatalities. Your life is not the one at stake when driving, so be sure to use good judgment, follow the laws of the road, and be cautious.
Of course, just because you are a safe driver, or think that you are, does not mean that all the other drivers are. For this, be sure to protect yourself and anyone else in your vehicle by always having car insurance and filing claims when necessary. The ignorance and errors of other drivers should not fall upon your shoulders. The leading causes of car accidents are listed below and what you should when in these situations.
Distracted Driving:
More now than ever, are more drivers unfocused on the road. No longer is eating, applying makeup, reading or other crazy things drivers do that can cause an accident, but most accidents happen because of the phone. Currently, nearly every state or city has laws that apply to people driving with their phones and for an excellent reason. Jeffrey Preszler from www.preszlerlaw.com says that as of 2018, the number one leading cause of traffic accidents in Canada was distracted driving due to using a cell phone or other handheld electronic device. When you are driving, let that be it, and put the phone away; it may sound like common sense, but people still find ways to do something other than driving. Distracted driving is now the primary cause of all car accidents.
Drunk Driving:
Drinking and driving has been around for ages, yet for some reason, people are still doing it. There are other options such as rideshare or a classic taxi. Do not let someone drink and drive; if they have no other choice, let them sober up or have someone take them home. There is never an excuse to drink and get behind the wheel or watch someone do it.
Irresponsible Driving:
The irresponsibility of some drivers can shock a lot of people. Speeding, tailgating, changing multiple lanes and aggressiveness are just a few of the ways that plenty of preventable accidents can happen. Even if you are running late or the car in front of you is going way to slow, calm down, and realize that it is not just you that is driving. Others can feel the impatience or frustration of another driver on the road.
Lawlessness:
Running red lights, improper turns, lack of a turn signal, we all have been behind those drivers. They have almost caused you or someone else you know an accident because they either did not pay attention to the signs or they did not care. Look for all the traffic signs and any other visuals that will help you be a more conscientious driver. If you know the rules of the road and follow them, it will be more beneficial to you and other drivers.
Weather:
Other people are not only out of our control, but the weather is too. If it is raining, snowing or there are storms, try to stay off the road if at all possible. Severe weather causes many accidents and only because of a slick road. If you are in the car during a storm and you have a chance to pull over to wait it out, do that first. Otherwise, drive with extreme caution, paying close attention to your driving and other vehicles.
Construction and Roads:
The roads need to be maintained, so that means there is always construction going on, especially if you live in the bigger cities. Make sure you slow down since you would not want to hurt one of the workers. Also, as tempting as it is to swerve from the potholes or bumps in the road, you cannot do that with oncoming traffic or someone next to your lane. Slow down and watch for people and the state of the road to avoid an accident.
When you head for the car and get behind the wheel of your car, think for a moment that you have the luxury of being able to do it. Now think of all the other people that you will come into contact with on the road since you must share it with others and realize they have families and loved ones too. Getting distracted behind the wheel is not worth what could happen to you or others.
