A car accident is just a nasty situation that everyone should try to avoid like the pest. With it comes so much admin and trouble that you would have wished you never got behind the wheel of a car…ever. Many people have never been involved in an accident and can count themselves very lucky. You can’t go wrong by educating yourself on the causes of accidents and how you should act when you are involved. We will be taking a look at what causes car accidents and what to do when they happen.
Causes
There are five main causes of car accidents. These include distraction, driver fatigue, drunk driving, speeding and weather conditions. They are all pretty self-explanatory but for your sake we will explain a little more.
Distractions can be caused by anything from kids playing around in the car, objects hanging from the rearview mirror and the radio, to putting on your make-up while driving or talking on your phone. It is not hard to see how these can cause a driver to be distracted and make an accident.
Driver fatigue is a very common occurrence and happens mostly to drivers who drive long stretches without resting in between. Falling asleep behind the wheel or being oblivious to your surroundings because of tiredness is very dangerous.
Driving drunk is inexcusable and irresponsible. There are very strict laws against driving under the influence but drunk driving is still the number one cause of car accidents in the United States. This is a very scary statistic and has authorities all over the world clamping down on such incidents.
Speeding and bad weather makes for a lethal combination and should not be mixed. As with drunk driving there are also very clear laws regarding speeding and not sticking to speed limitations. Bad weather should prompt drivers to be more cautious on the roads as cars easily slide on floor paint that mark the roads in these conditions. Even well placed barrier systems can’t always provide safety from such incidents.
An interesting fact that is contrary to popular belief is that men are more likely to be involved in
car accidents than women.
What Action Should You Take After an Accident?
The first step to take is to call the police if you are in good enough shape to do so. It is necessary for the police to investigate what had happened and to be provided with an accurate account. This will all aid you in your insurance claim.
It’s also important to medically evaluate yourself, your passengers and any other parties involved in the accident if at all possible. If no one was hurt during the accident, you are allowed to move the vehicles to the side of the road so that you don’t hold the traffic up. When someone did get hurt, you are permitted to leave everything as it is until the police allow the scene to be cleared.
The next important step to take is getting as much useful information as possible from the people involved in the accident. ID numbers, phone numbers, insurance numbers, name and surname, vehicle registration and whatever else you might believe to be useful for your insurance claims and medical bills. Getting the accounts of witnesses may also prove to be very helpful in any possible investigation by the police or insurance companies.
Waldo van den Berg is a forward thinking citizen and believes road safety is a key part of a healthy community. He believes that even a small matter such as
floor paint that marks our roads should be counted as important when it comes to the safety of the community.