Car accidents occur every day on Los Angeles streets and freeways. If you have driven on 5, 405, or 101 freeways in the last week, you have probably seen one or two yourself. Maybe you were even involved in a recent Los Angeles car accident and suffered an injury. Statistically speaking, you are not alone. Each year, 3 million people are injured in car accidents throughout the country and around 40,000 people are killed. These are very high numbers, and by following a few safety tips, they can be reduced. If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident you need to speak with a skilled auto accident lawyer in Los Angeles who can help you.
Tips for safe driving in Los Angeles and avoiding car accidents:
1. Don’t drink and drive. About 40% of all traffic fatalities are the result of drinking and driving. Many people think they are fine to drive after ‘just a few drinks’ but even one drink can seriously impair your judgment and reaction time, leading to a car accident that could have been avoided if you were sober.
2. Don’t text and drive. With commercials showing the perils of texting and driving airing all over Los Angeles, it would be hard to claim that you don’t know the negatives associated with texting and driving. Not only is it against the law, but just looking down for one second can result in a deadly car accident. A study by Car and Driver magazine found texting adds 70 feet to the average stopping distance when traveling 35 mph.
3. Avoid driving at night. Not only does driving at night impair your vision, but nighttime is also when you can find more drunk drivers on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 9pm – 6am are the most likely hours for a driver to be drunk or under the influence. Additionally, between the times of midnight to 6am is when the most fatal accidents happen.
4. Stay out of the fast lane. While it might be tempting, steer clear of the fast lane, the lane most accidents occur in. To reduce your chances of being involved in a car accident use the fast lane only for passing.
5. Keep your hands on position. Your drivers ed teacher was right: Keeping your hands at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock on the steering wheel will help you make a controlled maneuvers in the event of a sudden threat.
6. Scan the road. Constantly moving your eyes around the road ahead, to the side, and behind you (your rearview mirror) will help you stay alert and possibly notify you to any reckless or out of control drivers.
7. Watch your blind spots. Remember your side view mirrors. These can help you see your blind spots, so check them regularly and especially before changing lanes in order to avoid a side on collision.
8. Don’t speed. The posted speed limit is there for a reason. Yes, we know that sometimes it seems like a nuisance, but the faster you drive the longer it takes to react and/or stop to avoid an accident.
Thousands of car accidents occur in Los Angeles each year. We want to help you make sure you are not the victim of one of them. However, if you or a loved one have been injured in a Los Angeles car accident and are suffering physically and financially because of someone else’s negligence (such as texting and driving or drinking and driving), contact an experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyer today. You might be able to recover money for your injuries, including compensatory damages. The law is on your side and so are the experienced accident lawyers at The Trial Law Offices of Bradley I. Kramer, MD, Esq.