Common Car Accidents and How to Avoid Them

Car accidents lead to a very wide variety of injuries from minor abrasions to broken bones or even death. Car accidents can’t always be avoided, even under the best of circumstances. We simply don’t have control over the actions of other drivers on the roadways.

Driver Negligence

Negligence rears its ugly head in a variety of ways. Slowing down to look at another accident and running into the rear of the car in front of you is considered negligence. Distractions involving the radio or anything that takes your attention off of the road is also considered negligence. Negligence is to blame for about 25% of car accidents each year.

Pay close attention to everything in your vehicle before you leave your parking spot. Make sure your drink is secure and that your phone is silenced or on vibrate mode. Never text while driving. If something in your vehicle falls let it remain where it lands until you come to your next stop.

Improperly Fitting Seat Belts

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that about 73% of children between 5 and 9 years old killed in accidents were passengers in vehicles. Unfortunately, adult sized seat belts do not fit children correctly and must be used in conjunction with adapters. Seat belt adapters create a much safer riding atmosphere for children under the age of 12.

Young drivers often feel that seat belts make them look less than cool or that they are something only old people use because they aren’t as careful. The truth of the matter is that more young people are thrown from their seat and sustain serious injury in otherwise harmless accidents because they don’t wear their seat belt.

Always wear your seat belt and make sure passengers in your vehicle wear theirs. Never let children under 4 years of age ride in your vehicle without a booster seat. Make sure anyone under the age of 12 years wears a seat belt adapter to ensure their seat belt fits properly.

Drunk Driving

Roughly 40% of car accidents are related to alcohol abuse. Some driver under the influence of alcohol incorrectly assumed they were capable of operating a motor vehicle. The resulting accident is usually a very sobering ordeal for everyone involved.

Always call on a designated driver when alcohol is involved, regardless of the amount. Impaired driving doesn’t affect only the person who consumed alcoholic beverages; it affects everyone on the road. Drunk driving is the number-one killer of innocent people on our roads.

Compensation for Personal Injury at Someone Else’s Hand

Injuries may occur due to someone else’s actions or due to lack of action or negligence on their part. Any harm done to an individual by another individual should be addressed legally, and quickly. Medical bills and other expenses make life very difficult when you can’t work due to someone else’s neglect. Filing a lawsuit could allow you to collect money from the responsible party to offset your costs. Philadelphia personal injury lawyers with experience handling cases like yours will be able to tell you if you have a case during your initial free consultation.

Proving Fault

In order for an attorney to file suit on your behalf, you must have a valid claim. Whether their actions were intentional or unintentional, another person or party must be at fault for the incident which caused your wounds. You must be able to prove responsibility for a reasonable grievance to even exist.

Additionally, you must have legal standing to file suit. You must have sustained true bodily harm which has affected your life and caused you hardship. Your wounds may be physical or emotional, though physical injuries are usually easier to prove.

If you can prove that another party was responsible for your injuries, you must also show compensable damages in order to recover money in a personal injury suit. These damages may include medical bills, lost work time, property damage, or physical therapy.

Even if you’re unsure whether you have grounds for a lawsuit, you may consider consulting a lawyer. Philadelphia personal injury lawyers are experts, and they can help you figure out whether your case will return on the investment you’ll both put into it.