How to Minimize Personal Injuries when Driving

Driving a car is typically an everyday occurrence for most Americans. Although you try to drive defensively and avoid accidents at all costs, sometimes there are accidents that you simply can't avoid through no fault of your own. There are ways to minimize the possibility of an accident when you are driving on the road. However, if you are the victim of a car accident and suffer personal injury, having a personal injury attorney on your side immediately is essential.

The following steps are done to ensure your car is in safe operable order before even getting behind the wheel:

Check the Tires

A blow-out on the freeway can be extremely dangerous and cause severe injuries. Make sure to check your tire pressure and the tread of your car; poor tread could lead to a flat tire or skidding in certain road conditions.

Inspect the Windshield Wipers

It is amazing how important windshield wipers become when you need them the most. Rain, hail, and snow can be sudden and become intense in an instant. Rain can also create a situation where you feel almost blind and unable to see in front of your car. Good windshield wipers that have been well maintained and replaced when necessary can make all the difference between rear ending someone or driving safely through the downpour.

Refill the Windshield Wiper Fluid

Your windshield is the main mechanism you use to see properly and operate your vehicle. Besides making sure your windshield wipers are properly maintained, checking the fluid level of your wiper fluid is important.

It is easy for dirt to kick up from the road, especially if it has been particularly dry in the previous weeks or months. Dirt build-up on your windshield coupled with the sun shining right on the dirty windshield creates a situation where the driver is almost blinded from the reflection. This can result in head-on collisions, colliding into trees or other objects or people, and other dangerous predicaments. Top off your windshield wiper fluid regularly, you can buy the solution at any car maintenance shop and refill the fluid yourself.

Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Car

If for some reason you are unable to prevent an accident from taking place, always be prepared. Having necessary medical supplies until the paramedics are on the scene can help mitigate any further injuries. You should keep in your emergency kit: water, lights, charged pre-paid cell phone, tourniquet, gauze, batteries, and protein bars or another form of sustenance in case you are stuck in a deserted area.

Check the Pavement Under Your Car

This helps to determine if there are any leaks or parts hanging down that could get snagged or stuck on something in the road causing further damage. Have your car inspected by a mechanic before driving your car long distances if you notice something that doesn't look safe or normal under your car.

Checking your car and making sure you are properly prepared is a wonderful first step to drivers safety. If you are in an accident and sustain personal injuries, you know that you did all you could to ensure the safety of your car, can the other driver say the same?

Remember, you are only as safe as the worst driver on the road. So another consideration when preparing yourself for a safe drive is to make sure you cover uninsured and underinsured motorists in your car insurance policy. If you sustain a personal injury, your personal injury attorney will be able to get you the recovery that you deserve. Most drivers do not carry enough coverage to fully compensate a victim if they sustain a personal injury. Uninsured and underinsured motorists' insurance is one of the less expensive items to carry, so purchasing the highest amount possible is recommended. While it is the least expensive, it is the most important item to protect against personal injury repercussions.

Call Us Today

Following the above steps will ensure that no matter what, you will be able to minimize any personal injuries sustained during an accident. Accidents do happen, so if you have been in one recently, the first step is to contact a personal injury attorney to preserve evidence, your rights, and ensure a full recovery.

Call us for more information from Kim A. Bodnar, Attorney at Law or to schedule a consultation in our office in Pittsburgh.

NOTE: This Blog is for Informational Purposes Only and Does Not Constitute Legal Advice