Car accidents are common in Nevada, with thousands of crashes occurring each year. These collisions can be scary and overwhelming, leading to serious injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship. Although some accidents occur due to circumstances outside of our control, there are actions that we can take to prevent them from happening.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a collision, contact the Henderson car accident lawyers at The Janda Law Firm.
The following tips can help protect you while driving and ensure that you are not at fault in case you are involved in a collision.
#1: Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Before getting behind the wheel, it is important to be well-rested. Fatigued driving is extremely dangerous, leading to serious and dangerous collisions. If you drive while drowsy, you can fall asleep at the wheel and lose control of your vehicle, veering into other cars on the road. To stay safe and avoid drowsy driving accidents, always get a good night’s sleep before driving and pull over if you feel too tired to drive.
#2: Remember Your Blind Spots
All cars have blind spots, or areas that drivers cannot see in their mirrors or in their regular line of vision. Blind spots are typically located on the sides of a vehicle, and blind-spot accidents often occur because drivers rely solely on their mirrors to understand their surroundings. While you are driving, it is important to look behind you before changing lanes or merging into the flow of traffic.
#3: Put Away the Distractions
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,142 people died in distracted driving accidents in 2019. A distraction can involve anything that takes your eyes, mind, and hands away from the act of driving, such as eating, drinking, texting, talking on the phone, or fiddling with the radio or GPS. While driving, it is important to avoid any actions that distract you from the road.
Keep your phone tucked away and set your GPS or radio before you start driving. Reduce in-car distractions by eating and drinking before you leave and remind others in the vehicle to minimize noise while you are on the road. Most importantly, keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times—if you take your hands off the wheel, you may be unable to react to hazards and lose control of the vehicle.
#4: Maintain Distance Between Vehicles
When driving behind another vehicle, it is important to maintain a safe distance. If the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly or a hazard abruptly appears on the road, you will not have enough time to react to the situation. You could collide with the other driver, leading to a serious accident.
To maintain the safest distance, stay at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you. If you are in a larger or heavier vehicle that takes a longer time to stop, maintain a long-distance if possible. If the road conditions are poor or if the weather is rainy, snowy, or foggy, extend your distance as well. By maintaining appropriate distance, you have more time to react to hazards and stop safely, which helps avoid an accident.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
While these tips can help you avoid preventable accidents, some collisions occur quickly and unexpectedly. If you are involved in a Nevada car accident, it is important to seek help from a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A car accident lawyer in Las Vegas can guide you through the litigation process and secure the compensation you deserve. Contact a Las Vegas personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.