Nobody wants to get into a car accident, but everyone should be prepared for the possibility of one happening. By being aware and prepared, you may be able to reduce your chances of being injured in an accident.
Table of Contents
Sideswipe collisions
Sideswipe collisions are very common and can cause serious injuries. These occur when two drivers are parallel to each other and one driver merges into the other from the side. At very high speeds these can cause rollover accidents as one vehicle pushes the other off of the road. But in more minor cases it can cause scratches on the side of the car, possibly remove the side mirror and can definitely cause injuries to the joints and soft tissues.
The best way to avoid sideswipe collisions is to look both ways before changing lanes. Unfortunately, these happen most often because someone has failed to check their blind spot, or because one driver is distracted and begins to veer out of their lane.
Intersection collisions
Intersection collisions, also known as T-bone collisions or sometimes left-turn lane collisions, often occur when someone has run a stop sign or red light. These are very dangerous accidents when the front and or back end of one vehicle slams into the side of another vehicle, injuring the passengers or driver directly. Usually, these are due to one driver’s negligent or reckless driving.
To prevent these kinds of accidents, it’s important to only make left turns when you have a green arrow or, when you are to yield to traffic, there is no oncoming traffic. Also, when the light turns green at any intersection, don’t enter the intersection right away. Take a moment to check and see that the intersection is clear of any drivers who may have been trying to not catch the red light.
Rear-End Collisions
The best way to avoid these collisions is to leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you. You should also check your brake lights to ensure that they are functioning properly. You can use a heavy book on the brake pad while the car is in Park if someone else isn’t available to check for you. Another way to avoid rear-end collisions is to brake slowly when approaching a traffic light or stop sign.
Common Reasons for Car Accidents
There are a number of reasons why car accidents can happen. Here are a few.
Distracted Driving
Texting while driving related accidents are some of the most dangerous accidents because they can result in side swipe, intersection, rear-end or other types of accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians. When a driver or even a pedestrian is looking down at their phone, they are not paying attention to who or what is on the road. But it’s not just the act of looking down at the phone that causes accidents. When people are trying to drive and think of a response to a text or a business email, then their mind is on that responsibility rather than the responsibility of driving. They may be thinking about what to say back, and even worse, responding back as soon as possible, even at the risk of their own safety.
Driving Under The Influence
Everyone knows that driving under the influence is a bad idea. And yet, every year there are thousands of lives lost to driving under the influence, whether it’s from alcohol or from prescription drugs. Even some over-the-counter medications must be avoided when driving, such as Benadryl.
