Distracted Drivers – So Many Ways To Get distracted
There are certain driving rules set in stone like driving on the right side of the road and stopping at a light when it turns red. These are a necessity in order to maintain order and traffic fluidity. However, traffic laws can only do so much; in the end, the responsibility falls on the driver’s shoulders to follow these laws and pay attention to all that’s happening on the road.
Almost all driving calamities are caused by our inability to concentrate. Anything that garners your attention and takes your mind off the road greatly improves your chances of being involved in an accident. Without 100 percent of your effort focused on driving, your reaction to a dangerous obstacle will be delayed much longer than it should.
A Rampant Problem
Paying attention at all times is the golden rule of driving. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in spring of 2006, some type of driver distraction occurred in every four out of five crashes and 65 percent of close calls within three seconds of the incident. In other words, it only took mere seconds of limited attention to cause a disaster.
This day and age, multitasking in the driver’s seat is becoming the norm. Automobile manufacturers seem to be filling their vehicles with all sorts of amenities as subtle as cup holders or as obvious as DVD players and LCD screens installed in the dashboard. It is practically acceptable to see drivers:
• Eating or drinking.
• Surfing through radio stations.
• Switching CDs
• Talking on a cell phone.
• Engaging in conversation with passengers.
• Tending to children who demand attention
• Reading.
All of the above activities compromise the driver’s capacity to scrutinize and respond to the rapidly changing environment of the road.
Changing your viewpoint
Safe driving is dependent upon driver attitudes; drivers who consider their vehicles extensions of their homes may have a tendency to overlook safety in favor of convenience and entertainment value. On the other hand, those who distinguish their vehicles as extremely large and powerful weapons waiting to be misused are more apt to view driving in the literal sense—an intricate task that requires total attentiveness if it is to be done correctly.
Curbing driver distractions
• Ensure that young passengers are comfortable and appropriately fastened in child seats. To prevent children from bothering the driver, give them safe materials to keep them busy (e.g., coloring books, stuffed animals, etc.). Make sure pets are secured inside their carriers as well.
• Stop the car if you or anyone else in the vehicle intends to eat or drink. It is possible for anybody to choke if they are chewing while the car is moving, creating a major disruption for the driver. By pulling over, you give you and your passengers the opportunity to take a break from the stress associated with traffic and enjoy your pick-me-up without having to rush.
• Plan out your journey before you get going. If you’re unsure of the area, pull off to the side of the road to plot the route and avoid the hassle of looking at a map while trying to watch the road.
• Finish primping yourself before leaving the house. Never attempt to shave, put on makeup, or brush your hair while operating a motor vehicle.
• Do not participate in arguments or upsetting conversations with passengers or over the phone. These situations can lead to aggressive or unpredictable driving patterns.
• Proceed with caution, and prepare yourself for bad weather or careless drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists that you may share the road with.
• Get to know your vehicle inside and out, especially internal switches and dials that control various mechanisms. This is absolutely necessary if you are driving an unfamiliar vehicle such as a new or rental car. Prior to shifting to drive, practice using these instruments so that you can perform vital tasks such as running the headlights, wipers, and defrosters without having to look.
• The only thing your hands should be touching is the steering wheel, and the only thing your eyes should be looking at is the road while the vehicle is in motion. Unless you have a hands-free kit or Bluetooth headset, you should not be talking on a cell phone while driving. Make your calls before departing from your home or office, or else postpone them until you reach your destination. In the meantime, anyone trying to reach you can leave messages on your voicemail. If it happens to be an emergency, pull off to the shoulder or into a parking lot to use the phone. More on this website
Dealing with the Insurance Company – After An Accident
Dealing with the Insurance Company
When you are injured in an automobile accident it is not any fun dealing with the insurance companies. However, how you communicate with them can greatly affect how you are compensated for your injuries. Some things to remember when dealing with your insurance company are not to inflate the seriousness of your injuries, not to post inappropriate materials on your social media sites for them to find, and not to attempt to include past injuries as related to your accident. 
Whenever you are filing your claim with your insurance company, it is very important that you are always honest with them.
It is important that you call your insurance agent to file a claim after an accident or injury occurs. You should not expect them to have your best interests in mind and do not take their advice. They can attempt to manipulate and take advantage of you by offering you a very low offer on your claim or telling you that you do not need an attorney. DO NOT SIGN ANY RELEASES OR WAIVERS OF ANY KIND UNTIL YOU OBTAIN LEGAL COUNSEL FROM AN ATTORNEY. Insurance companies will try to get you to sign away your rights by paying you a small settlement (that is far less than what your injury claim is actually worth) that has fine print saying that it is the final payment, and then say that you accepted it as a settlement for your injuries. That is why you need an attorney to represent you against these large corporations, to ensure that you receive the actual fair value of your claim.
These corporations tell you that you do not need an attorney because they know that an attorney would know such things as the actual fair value of your injury claim, jury trends, and accident law. For example, if you are in an accident and seriously injured, the insurance corporation might immediately offer to pay you $5,000 and tell you that they will pay your medical bills. You think it is fair and acceptable. However, your case might have had an actual fair value of 10 or 20 times that amount and when you send the medical bills for the insurance company to pay they might tell you that the treatment was “unnecessary” and not pay it or give some other excuse for not wanting to pay your bills. These corporations are only interested in making money, not fairly compensating you for your injury. You need an experienced accident attorney to represent you against these large companies to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injuries.
Insurance companies employ different tactics when trying to save their corporation money at your expense. For example, they are very good at delaying a claim and using delay tactics. They know that the longer they delay the more likely you are to get tired of waiting and take a settlement for less than fair value. Also, you only have a certain amount of time from the date of an accident to bring a lawsuit (known as a statute of limitations) and if they can delay past this date then you might be forever barred from bringing a lawsuit for your injuries, and then they have no incentive to pay your claim at all.
They can also “discount” your medical bills, by not counting certain medical bills as part of your claim by saying that the treatment was “unnecessary”. Even though you and your physician thought that the treatment was necessary, these insurance adjusters might disagree. They are only doing this, and other tactics, in order to make their company profits and save them money. You need an accident attorney to deal with these large multinational corporations so that you don’t have to. Call us today for a free consultation with one of our accident attorneys. Please visit this website
What A Texas Car Accident Lawyer Can Do For
What A Texas Car Accident Lawyer Can Do For
A Texas car accident lawyer is your most excellent helper when you or your loved ones get harmed in an auto accident. Depending upon the seriousness of the injury, you may have to spend loads of money on medical cure. Keeping in mind the fact that medical expenses in recent times are skyrocketing, it’s can be assumed that unexpected expenses will deplete your savings. By picking a good lawyer, you not only maximize your probability of winning the claim but as well get the compensation you are worthy of.
Be Aware Of Your Rights
There is a particular legal process that the sufferer has to pursue in cases of auto accidents. For instance, they must take action instantly in filing the complaint adjacent to the party that is liable for the accident. There is a definite legal time limit that you must pursue otherwise your case may expire. It’s very essential for you to know that justice is not an automatic thing. You require fighting for it. The key aim of appointing a specialist Texas car accident lawyer is to ensure that you win the case and that you get the compensation you are worthy of.
Don’t Delay
On the other hand, the chief cause why still a skilled legal expert may find it very complicated to win the case for you is that sometimes their hands are tied. In nearly all cases the client (the sufferer) is guilty for this. Getting injured or having some of your loved ones injured in some accident on the road is certainly a horrific experience. Such accidents leave you in a situation of shock and busy handling numerous things for example the insistent medical treatment and assembling funds to forfeit the medical bill and so on. You put out of your mind regarding filing the complaint, and the moment you come to a decision to carry out so, you may not remember lots of things about the accident. You may not be able to elucidate everything in detail to your Texas car accident lawyer that what really occurred that day.
Indeed, when you contact a lawyer subsequent to a couple of months, it too makes it very complex for the lawyer to inspect the case in detail. They may miss out on some vital clues and proofs. Consequently, while it’s essential to focus on getting medical care, it’s is also important to contact a car accident attorney and instantly begin the legal process to file your case.
The earlier you contact a lawyer, the better it’s for you. The investigating team of your lawyer will get sufficient time to investigate all the facets and collect necessary evidence. Based on their inquiry, they will direct you during the procedure. If you’re a genuine claim, they will first attempt to resolve the case outside the courtroom through discussions with the party guilty for the accident. If they feel apologetic regarding the accident and are prepared to offer you the compensation you are worthy of, your case may get settled instantly. But if they do not, only a Texas car accident lawyer can edify the liable party a good lesson in order that they drive more cautiously after this.
You need to hire a Texas car accident lawyer or a Texas Truck Accident Attorney if you have met with an accident. Visit us at our website for more information.