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Tips and Tricks for Avoiding Distracted Driving

by Innov8tiv.com

Distracted driving is a leading cause of auto accidents. Being distracted means that you don’t have the right focus on the road. This means that if something happens, you don’t have full control of your car. Avoid Distracted Driving Accident cases with the following tips and tricks.

Service Your Vehicle

Make sure that your vehicle is in good shape. Top up the windshield wiper fluid. Check if the tires are properly inflated. And carry an emergency safety kit with you. Don’t forget to pack your car-related documents. Always ensure that you’ve your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and car insurance documents.

Buckle Up

Seatbelts are specifically designed to save lives. So, be sure to strap in and ask everyone else to do so. If you’re traveling with pets, ensure that they’re properly secured in their seats. Don’t allow your pets to roam around or sit on your lap. They might cause unnecessary distractions.

Embrace Patience

When driving, it’s always important to stay calm. Avoid being aggressive or speeding. Just keep yourself cool and focus on driving safely. In today’s ever-busy world, there can be no shortage of traffic.

Separation Distance

Don’t drive too close to the vehicle in front. Instead, maintain a one-cars-length separation distance to allow for safe stopping. And if the weather is foul, increase the distance a little bit.

Pay Close Attention to Weather Reports

Be watchful of the weather. If there’s rain, be sure to adjust your driving tactics to fit those conditions. During bad weather, you should drive slowly and more carefully. When the weather isn’t optimal, ease up.

Be Careful with Emergency Vehicles

Is there an accident along the way? If so, give the emergency personnel some space. Slow down and pave way for emergency vehicles. These might include ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, as well as, tow trucks.

At such times, you shouldn’t rubberneck. Rubbernecking can slow down traffic and could even make you cause another collision.

Never Drive While Distracted

Distracted driving can be extremely dangerous. Don’t be tempted to call or text when driving. If necessary, let your passengers choose their preferred music. If you get hungry, simply pull over to snack.

 Never Drive While Tired

Are you feeling tired? Well, the best thing you can do is to let someone else drive and take a quick nap. Driver fatigue can lead to poor driving decisions. So, don’t be too hard on yourself.

Avoid Drunk Driving

If you have taken alcohol or consumed cannabis, desist from driving. Driving under influence can result in tragic accidents. So, always be sure to have a standby driver who can take up your roles when you decide to partake in either of these substances.

Follow Traffic Rules

As a driver, you should be self-disciplined. Stick to the speed limit, put your phone away, and avoid driving when you’re impaired. Besides, you should always signal your lane changes and buckle up when necessary. Remember, driving isn’t about showing off, but it’s solely arriving at your desired destination safely.

Safeguard Loose Items

While mobile phones are a common cause of distraction to drivers, there are many other items that can be equally distractive. These include bags, water bottles, and many more. When these items aren’t secured, they might fall over as you drive. And when you incline to pick them up, they can take your focus off the road and cause you to jerk the steering wheel.

If you accidentally get into a collision. Lose items can instantly become hazardous projectiles. So, always keep open items in a tightly closed unit.

Ensure That the Car Settings Are Adjusted Accordingly

Before driving, adjust all the in-car settings. For instance, you should consider checking the side mirrors, climate controls, as well as, seat positions. Of course, you can adjust these settings as you drive, but if you’re still new top driving, you’ll want to do it before kick-starting your journey.

It’s always important to keep the temperature inside your vehicle cool in order to stay awake and calm. When it’s too warm inside, you might start to feel tired and drowsy. And this can be potentially dangerous.

Consider Pre-Setting The GPS

Planning your journey ahead is a smart move. Research shows that most people nowadays use GPS apps on the road. If you must utilize these apps, be sure to pre-set them and turn on audio directions. Doing this will allow you to stay alert on the road and still access route updates. Plus, it will keep you, your passengers, and fellow drivers safe.

No Multitasking

When it comes to driving, multitasking is never possible. You can multitask with routine tasks, but once the tasks demand more brainpower, your ability to multitask decreases significantly. Driving a car requires a bit of mental engagement. You don’t just need to pay attention to your own life, but you’re also responsible for other driver’s safety.

Stop in Case of An Emergency

Desist from operating your phone. But if it’s an emergency that should be instantly addressed, simply pull over and make your call. You should also do this if you’re feeling excessively drowsy. Driving when you’re tired is sometimes regarded as distracted driving. Fatigue impairs your ability to focus, hence reducing your reaction times. Thus, if you feel tired, simply pull over and take a quick break.

All Phones Should Be Off

If possible, switch off your phone. Although this might seem difficult, it’s always advisable to implement it. Research has found that most people rely subconsciously on mobile phones. After viewing their phones, most people get excited. And this makes it difficult to focus on driving safely. Thus, it’s always better to switch off your phone while driving.

Tips and Tricks for Safeguarding the Accident Scene

The scene of the accident is the most important component when it comes to pursuing a personal injury case. Here is where the real evidence is located. So, it’s important to understand how to safeguard evidence at the scene of the accident. Here are key strategies you can use to safeguard evidence at the accident scene.

Take Photos

Take photos of the accident scene. This includes photos of the wreckage. Also, consider taking photos of the other driver’s driving license. You can also take photos of the eyewitnesses. Still more, consider taking photos of your injuries. For instance, if you have a bruise, take photos. These photos will act as string evidence before a court of law. It’s also important to take videos. Your lawyer will go through these videos before taking your case to court.

Contact Details

Take the contact details of the other driver. Do the same to the eyewitnesses. You can also take the contact details of the other vehicle’s insurance company. Also, you need the contact details of the police officers who assessed the accident scene. Remember, these people will be called in court as witnesses when litigating your case.

Inform the Police

Never leave the accident scene without calling the police. Among other things, the police will carry out thorough investigations and draft a police report. This report will be used in court as evidence. Thus, call the police immediately.

Don’t Leave the Scene

Never leave the accident scene. The other party may tamper with evidence, which can compromise your case.

Call Your Lawyer

It’s important to act swiftly and inform, your personal lawyer. He/she will advise you what and not what to say. A lawyer will also recommend you to a good hospital for medical attention. Still more, if your lawyer can come to the accident scene, things can be easy. He/she will help you gather and preserve evidence.

The Car Should Not Be moved From the Scene

Never move your car from the accident spot. Remember, the police will come and evaluate the circumstances that lead to the accident. Moving your car is like destroying the evidence. The best thing to do is to apply the brakes, take your key from the ignition deck, and get out.

No Touching Anything

Don’t touch the surfaces of the damaged car. Touching things at the scene of the accident is like tampering with evidence. Leave everything intact. Compromising the accident scene can injure your case. It can interfere with crucial evidence. Also, consider documenting everything at the scene. If you have to take or touch anything at the scene, be sure to get sufficient permission from the police.

Have Copies of Police Reports

In most cases, the police will write a report. In the report, they will document all evidence, including who was probably at fault. The police report will obtain the details of all parties involved in the accident. This report will be used in court as evidence. That’s why you shouldn’t leave the accident scene without a copy of this report. The lawyer will go through the police report to build up your case. Also, you need a 911 dispatch report, newspaper clippings, as well as doctor’s records.

Document the Injuries

Besides documenting the evidence at the accident scene, it’s important to document your injuries. That’s why you need to seek medical attention immediately. The doctors will run tests on you to ascertain your condition. In most cases, MRI, CT scans, etc. will be run to ascertain the extent of your injuries. Also, consider sticking to your doctor’s advice. Don’t skip any session. Take all medications. Still more, keep all the receipts. Don’t throw away bottles of medicines taken. Keep the doctor’s notes. File the test results. They will act as pieces of evidence before the court.

Why You Should Collect and Preserve Accident Scene Evidence

The outcome of your case will be based on facts. It will rely on the evidence presented. Weak evidence will only see your case thrown out of court. On the other hand, present strong evidence and you will be right on your way to victory. Thus, preserving evidence will positively impact your case. Here are tips and tricks for collecting as well as preserving evidence, especially at the accident scene:

Physical Evidence

Preserve any physical item at the scene of the accident. This includes broken items, torn clothes, crashed phones, etc. The lawyer will use this physical evidence when putting your case together. Thus, don’t throw away any damaged physical item. Keep it. Take a photo of any physical item.  Also, if you have a good camera, take photos from all angles.

Visual Evidence

Besides physical evidence, having visual evidence can be very instrumental when it comes to litigating your case. Thus, taking photos at the scene of the accident is very crucial. Ensure that the scene is captured from all angles. You can ask a witness to take pictures if you feel hurt. Photograph your car. Show how it was damaged. Take photos of the other car. Also, consider taking photos of the driving environment. If there were skid marks, take photos. If the weather was bad, don’t hesitate to document it in photos. Take as many pictures as possible. This includes pictures of debris, broken parts, etc. Do it from all angles.

Written Evidence

According to experts, you should take notes regarding the accident. Have a record of what happened. Document how the accident happened. These notes will help you when piecing together the evidence.

Key Takeaway

Being involved in an accident isn’t the end of life. You can still lead a normal life. Thus, be ready to seek justice for your personal injuries. Hiring a lawyer is one of the best ways to kickstart your legal battle. Choose the right lawyer. Also, understand how to collect and preserve evidence, especially at the scene of the accident. For instance, things like taking photos and requesting a police report can hugely help your lawyer analyze the evidence. Thus, don’t let personal injuries pin you down. Seek justice today and get the right compensation.

The Bottom-Line

Don’t let distracted driving lead you to accidents. The above tips and tricks will help you avoid distracted driving and stay safe on the road.


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