Most Common Auto Accident and Injury

Driving an automobile, motorcycle, or pickup truck, on the highways and byways of the United States can be precarious and daunting at times. Absent-minded and preoccupied drivers seem to be the norm currently with so many new technological advances (cell phones, PDAs), and millions of Americans lacking the willpower to wait until their vehicle is stopped moving to reply to that all-important text message or phone call. When eyes are not on the road or on steady moving traffic, more accidents inevitably occur. The most common automobile accident occurs when negligent drivers take their attention off of the vehicle immediately preceding them, if only for a second, and then make impact with another driver’s rear bumper. Rear-end collisions occur at the alarming rate of nearly 3 million in the U.S. each year, and though injuries that occur are most often minor, the pain can be extreme and debilitating to say the least.

As a driver, one can avoid causing a rear end collision by always making sure to keep a safe distance between your automobile and the one in front of you. This distance should be modified according to weather, speed, and current traffic conditions. In fair weather conditions and steady moving traffic situations, it is always good to maintain at least 3 seconds of distance between your car and a preceding auto. This ensures your ability to stop quickly when necessary, or swerve to avoid collision. Tailgating should of course be avoided; the closer you are to another driver seriously hampers your ability to react and stop safely. Observing the driver immediately preceding you is important, but it is also helpful to continuously scan a few more vehicles ahead in order to be well aware of situations that may occur. Approaching intersections should be of special consideration, as intersections are where many traffic accidents occur due to negligent or impatient driving practices.

To help avoid being injured when being struck from behind, it is always necessary to be sure that your lap and shoulder belt are securely fastened and snugly adjusted to limit movement. Neck injuries are often sustained by victims of a rear-end collision, so it is paramount to have your headrest at an optimum preventative position. The top of a driver’s headrest should be at the same level of his or her eyes in order to perform adequately in an accident. A headrest should move the accident victim’s head forward with the seat instead of allowing his or her neck to be thrown over the back of the headrest (when positioned too low).

By following these simple guidelines, a driver can feel protected and hopefully prevent causing a rear-end collision and being injured from another driver should one occur. As always, when injured in an accident, it may be necessary to seek a physician’s advice or aid. These costs can and should be compensated by the driver at fault. Make sure your rights are protected in an accident by contacting a personal injury attorney when necessary. Safe driving practices only provide protection before an accident; an attorney will help protect an injured driver after the accident occurs.

Lloyd Robles heads Robles & Associates, an Austin, Texas based firm, specializing in personal injury law. Please visit www.roblesassociates.com