While car accidents are rarely the victim’s fault, there are still ways you can try and stop accidents from happening. If you do find yourself in a car accident, make sure you always have an Atlanta car accident lawyer’s phone number to hand, as they should be one of the first people you contact after an incident. However, by following these tips below, you can aim to reduce the chance of an accident happening in the first place this year.
Avoid Texting and Driving
Our phones are an integral part of our lives today, but the one time you should avoid looking at them is while you are driving. Even if you are stopped at the lights, you may miss a signal or someone coming up behind you. If you are on the go and find you need to reply to a text message, pull over to the side of the road and deal with your phone then. The same goes for calling and using other mobile phone apps, as these all encourage you to take your eyes and focus off the road while driving.
Plan Ahead for Your Journey
If you are heading somewhere new, make sure you plan your journey ahead of time. While you may rely on your phone or GPS, make sure you receive the route, so you have an idea of where you are heading to. You don’t want to be looking for street names and lose concentration on the road, only to end up in an accident. It takes two minutes to review a route before heading out on your journey, so take this time to avoid an accident from happening.
Keep Your Hands on the Steering Wheel
As an Atlanta car accident lawyer, you would be surprised to learn how many accidents take place due to someone not having their hands on the steering wheel. Always have at least one hand on the wheel and preferably two hands for the majority of the journey. Try to minimize the distractions in your car that may cause you to take your hands off the wheel, such as changing radio stations or eating on the go. A quick gust of wind or a blown tire could move your car into another lane and cause a fatal accident.
Regular Car Maintenance
Another common cause of accidents we see as Atlanta car accident lawyers is poor maintenance. Many car owners try to push their car to its limits and minimize the amount of money they spend on maintenance. This can cause sudden stalls and car failure just because you haven’t changed your oil or kept your tires properly inflated. Book your car in for regular maintenance to stop this from occurring, as you will likely be held liable for this in the case of an emergency.
Watch Out for Kids and Animals
Atlanta car accident lawyers see a massive number of accidents each week involving kids and animals, and these can be absolutely devastating for everyone involved. If you are driving through a residential area or are near a school, make sure you drive slower and watch out for kids and animals. Smaller people and animals are so easy to miss when you are driving a large car, but these accidents are often fatal or life-changing.
Be Careful When Backing Out
While you may think that an Atlanta car accident lawyer only deals with massive highway crashes, you would be surprised to learn that smaller accidents can also result in huge damage to individuals or vehicles. So often, people don’t look back when they are backing out, which can cause massive damage to another vehicle. Don’t just depend on your mirrors when backing out, and physically take a look over your right-hand shoulder to ensure you check all of the blind spots you can’t see in your mirrors.
Treat Other Drivers with Respect
Even if you think you are the best driver around, don’t tailgate other drivers. Leave about a three-second gap between you and anyone else on the road to ensure you don’t get too close if they have to put their brakes on suddenly. Even if you are in a rush to get to your final destination, don’t speed just to make it there on time. Tailgating is one of the biggest causes of accidents in Atlanta and is something that could so easily be avoided. Treat everyone on the roads with the same respect as you’d like to receive, and you’ll find driving is much more pleasant for everyone.
By following these top tips above, you can work to avoid an accident in 2021. If you do find yourself in a car accident this year, contact an Atlanta car accident lawyer at Rafi Law Firm to receive the advice and support you’ll need following an accident.