Car accidents happen and take the lives of nearly 40,000 people every year. In fact, fatalities on roadways are among the top 10 cases of young people, despite the fact that the rate is actually declining.
As the statistics show, any time you operate a vehicle on the road, you are in danger of being involved in an accident. It’s simple math, the longer you are driving — and for most people, it’s hours each day — the higher your chances are of being in a car collision.
How likely are you to be involved in an accident that results in death? It is dependent on when and where you are driving.
The following are the locations where vehicle collisions usually occur or Car Accidents Happen, as well as some steps you can take to try to avoid them.
While an automobile accident may take place at any location, there are some places it happens more than others that you should be aware of.
Rural Areas- Car Accidents Happen
When you are traveling through a city, having to stop and go again and again might be inconvenient. Especially when you are met with consistent red lights and the amount of traffic you might run into.
Despite these factors, deadly car accidents are more common in rural locations. In fact, rural regions accounted for nearly half of all fatal automobile accidents in 2017. In metropolitan locations, there are more pedestrian-related collisions, while in rural areas, you see a higher percentage of fatal passenger car or truck collisions due to vehicles traveling at high speeds.
Stoplights
Yes, statistics show that many accidents happen at stoplights. Think about it? Sometimes, drivers are unable to determine the amount of time they need to stop when the light turns red.
Because of this, we commonly see rear-end accidents at stoplights. There are a number of reasons this could take place. Maybe the driver was distracted and didn’t brake in time. Or, it may be that a vehicle’s brakes are not in great working order. Or, it’s possible they didn’t even see the stoplight and zoomed through it.
While these sorts of collisions don’t generally end in a tragedy, an injury could happen, as well as vehicle damage.
Not Knowing The Rules of an Intersection
When you drive up to an intersection, who has the right-of-way in the situation?
For drivers, intersections may be quite perplexing. Drivers may make unsafe maneuvers because they don’t know who has the right-of-way, which may result in side-impact incidents or worse.
Parking Lots
Parking lots or covered garages are the scene of many accidents. It’s not uncommon to hit a parked vehicle when pulling out of a tight parking spot.
Usually, a parking lot will have slow speed limits, with signs posted to make drivers aware of this. However, due to large crowds of people and cars driving through, accidents can and will happen.
Your Neighborhood
While traveling in a vehicle for a lengthy road runs a great risk for being involved in a crash, driving in your own neighborhood can be quite dangerous as well, due to the driver being at their most vulnerable.
In fact, the majority of fatal collisions occur within a 25-mile radius of a driver’s home. If you take a second, you may recall a time when you arrived at home, but had no idea how you got there.
Because driving in your own area is typical for you and repetitious, your brain can switch into auto-pilot your entire drive home. When driving home from your regular work commute, you may find yourself relying on muscle memory rather than being active as a driver.
The opposite is found when you are commuting to a new location. You will be overly alert because you must ensure that you are driving in the right direction.
It’s important that you always wear your seatbelt and be alert of your surroundings, even if you are just driving somewhere close to your home.
Steps to Take To Reduce the Chances of a Car Accident
There is no foolproof method you can implement in your everyday driving to prevent a car accident completely. However, we can take certain precautions that will reduce our chances of it happening.
Keep an eye on your driving behaviors. The first step is to become more conscious of your driving behaviors. Make sure to remain alert every time you are in the driver’s seat. Next is to completely eliminate any risky driving. This means if you hear your phone ring, do not attempt to check it. Another is to listen to your driving directions instead of glancing at your phone.
This may take some time to master, but the goal here is to remain free of accidents.
If you do get into an accident, it will be noted on your driving record. If you have a spotless driving record, this can help you save money on your insurance. You’re saving money while also ensuring your safety.
What Should I Think About If An Accident Does Happen?
After you are sure you are safe from any additional dangers that may come while on the road after an accident, the next thing to think about is what you should do in regard to legal steps. Insurance will likely be handling any damages or other costs that can arise, but you want to ensure you get the most out of any claim you file. Talk to a car accident lawyer to determine the route you should take. Are you injured? Do you need your medical bills taken care of? Taking an accident lawyers free consultation will be an important first step in figuring out exactly what should be done and what you should receive, in terms of compensation
