With the sheer number of car owners in the US, it’s no surprise that auto accidents are an unfortunately common occurrence here. While we wish that a great bulk of these numbers were just minor crashes, the truth is far sadder and worrying than that. An average of 37000 Americans lose their lives in road-related accidents while over 2 million suffer serious injuries and disabilities annually.[1] Just last year, over 0.3 million car crashes were reported in Michigan alone out of which 1000 proved to be fatal. [2]And these numbers have only surged since 2015.
You might be confident in your driving skills and how cautious you are when on the road, but you can’t say the same about other motorists – there’s always the possibility of colliding with an irresponsible driver and suffering from their negligence as a result. As such, it’s critically important to take extra measures and spot the warnings beforehand to ensure that you don’t become part of these statistics.
Human Error
Of course, the major cause of most car accidents in the US are drivers themselves. Negligent drivers not only endanger themselves but also the lives of other drivers on the road as well as nearby pedestrians. The most dangerous of these are motorists that are under the influence. Knowingly taking drugs or consuming alcohol before or while driving is a serious offense as one deliberately impairs oneself from driving properly.
Reckless driving on the other hand isn’t entirely illegal depending on the circumstances, but could potentially result in accidents. Switching lanes suddenly and without lighting the correct indicator, driving in the wrong direction in a one-way lane, making illegal turns, speeding and running red lights are all setups for a huge disaster. Their rough driving is however easy to identify and can be avoided if you keep a safe distance or use an alternative route.
Distracted drivers however can be a little tougher to spot. Once again, maintain your distance and see if the other car is swaying or is slowing down and speeding up at random intervals. Chances are, someone is busy texting on their phone and might swing their car into yours if you drive close past them.
Manufacturing Defects
While failed brakes might be a nightmare especially on a highway, you can always prevent any faults or breakdowns in your car by doing regular maintenance checks and doing all repairs and replacements as soon as the need arrives.
Weather Conditions
When the going gets tough, better to sit it out in this case. Bad weather, especially during heavy rainfall or snow, creates treacherous conditions that can potentially result in disastrous auto accidents such as slippery roads and poor visibility. Drive slowly with your hazard lights on or pull over until the weather starts to clear up. Try your best to avoid travelling when there’s dust storm or thick fog.
Road conditions
Bad roads are always a site for disaster – running over potholes cause serious damage to your car’s suspension which is why drivers tend to drive around them. However, they might also unintentionally swerve into another car or tip over if skirting potholes at high speeds. Go slow where the road is bad, and the same goes for construction zones. You might end up with flat tires or run into scaffolding if you don’t go slow and pay attention to the signs posted in construction areas.
If you’ve had the unfortunate luck of getting caught in a car crash, US Rehabilitation & Health Services is the ideal place for your post-accident care needs. Get expert medical treatment from our specialist doctors and physical therapists, and glide through the legal paperwork with our affiliated lawyers. Contact us today for a free consultation.
[1] http://asirt.org/initiatives/informing-road-users/road-safety-facts/road-crash-statistics
[2] http://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/2016_YE_Report_568742_7.pdf