How to Prevent Car Accidents in Fresno – AutoAccident.com
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno car accident lawyer. Accidents are visible reminders that motorists need to drive defensively and obey the rules. To avoid becoming a statistic and robbing your family of a loved one, learn ways you can stay safe on the highway.
Call to Action
Due to the increase in deaths on the roadway, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a call to action to address the 7.2 percent hike in fatalities. According to incidence reports for the year 2015, 2,348 more traffic deaths were reported than the previous year, bringing the total number of fatalities to 35,092. The increase in fatalities in 2014 was 0.5 percent over the 2013 total.
Car Safety Improvements and 2016 Fatalities
Over the past 10 years, car makers have incorporated safety devices into their vehicles from air bags to crumple zones, which absorb the impact energy. However, the number of deaths continue to climb. The National Safety Council recently published that in 2016 40,200 people were killed. This is a 14.2 percent increase over 2014. Injuries in 2016, numbering 4.6 million, were also higher by a factor of 17 percent over 2015. The financial burden of injuries, deaths and property damage was $432.5 billion in 2016. This reflects a 12 percent increase over the expenses in 2015, including medical expenses, wage loss, employer costs, administrative expense and property damage.
Drivers Want Safer Roads
In a survey taken by the National Safety Council, over 80 percent of drivers agreed that something has to be done to make the roads safer. Participants were required to be 21, have an license to drive that was unrestricted, be a U.S. resident and travel at least 15 minutes each 24-hour period with the majority driving under one hour.
Survey Results
Eighty-four percent said they were more fearful of a vehicular accident than other types of disasters, including gun violence.The majority feared teen drivers, bad weather accidents, fatigued drivers, road rage, speeding, drugged drivers and drunk drivers in that order. To combat this, 86 percent of survey participants favored such things as interlock devices while 80 percent agreed with laws restricting use of handheld cell phones, and 65 percent said mobile phone use while driving should be eliminated entirely. In addition, 76 percent said legalizing marijuana was a concern.
Ways to Drive Safely
- Drive slower: Driving within the speed limit is the law. However, being aware of the flow of traffic and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles may mean that you must reduce your speed. Higher impacts often translate into more serious injuries or deaths.
- Stay in the right lane: Unless you need to pass another vehicle, staying in the slow lane is a good choice since more accidents happen in the passing lane. An additional benefit is that if you face a possible crash, the right lane offers greater opportunity to maneuver away from it.
- Let hurried drivers move in front of you: There are instances where another driver cuts in front of your vehicle. If you see that coming, give him or her as much room as you can since trying to block the vehicle can lead to a crash.
- Do not tailgate:This practice commonly leads to a rear-end crash when the lead vehicle decides to slow down abruptly.
- Look from side to side: Looking straight ahead can be almost as dangerous as being distracted. It is important to have a working knowledge of what is happening around you.
- Wear your seat belt: Wearing a seat belt has been proven to keep you safe from abrupt movement and forces common in car accidents. This can result in blunt chest trauma or abdominal injury.
- Don’t drive when taking medication: We all know drinking and driving is forbidden if you are serious about safety and obeying the law. But, driving while taking certain prescription medications or over-the-counter cold preparations may be equally dangerous.
- Avoid distractions: Being distracted by talking on the phone, texting, playing with the radio, eating or putting on makeup are all reasons accidents happen. The solution is to wait until you’ve stopped or have arrived at your destination.
Fresno Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno car accident lawyer. Avoiding reckless behavior while driving is one way to decrease accidents. When a negligent driver does not follow the rules of the road and causes you to be injured or kills a family member, you may want the services of a seasoned injury lawyer to help you through it. I am always a call away at (559) 377-7676 in the Fresno area or toll-free at (800) 404-5400 for friendly, free legal advise.
In 35 years, my staff and I have assisted those living in Fresno and surrounding areas of Northern California with wrongful death lawsuits and catastrophic accident claims such as traumatic brain injuries and amputations.
Before you decide if I am the right attorney for you, take a look at Avvo, the legal site where other lawyers comment on my practice, as well as Google and Yelp to see previous client reviews.
On my settlements and verdicts page, you’ll find the way other cases were resolved.
I am a member of a nationwide group of top trial attorneys who have won $1 million or more for clients. You’ll find more information on MillionDollarAdvocates.com.
I created AutoAccident.com, the website you are on right now, to provide Californians with the knowledge they need about personal injury topics. Explore some now by visiting our sitemap.
cv