In 2020, 38,824 Americans lost their lives in car accidents, and millions more were seriously injured. The fatality rate of crashes in the U.S. is the highest of any high-income country, and crashes have become the leading cause of death for people aged 1-54. While the majority of accidents are minor, it is important to understand common types of accidents and how to avoid them.
Rear-End Collisions
The most common injury-causing car accidents occur when one driver strikes another from behind. Some rear-end collisions are minor fender benders, but these types of crashes often cause serious concussions, lacerations, and spinal injuries. Here are three tips to avoid a serious rear-end collision:
- Keep a healthy distance between vehicles. On open roads, drivers should maintain at least a 3-second gap between themselves and the car in front of them. This is the minimum amount of space that ensures that you have enough time to react to an emergency ahead of you. When the pavement is wet, a 4-6 second gap should be maintained with vehicles ahead of you.
- Be aware of vehicles behind you. Many people assume that the driver behind them bears the full responsibility of a rear-end collision in the eyes of an insurance agency or a civil court, but this is not always the case. Avoid slamming on the brakes if someone is right behind you. By being aware of vehicles behind you, you are less likely to cut people off or find yourself in a vulnerable position.
- Avoid distractions. Many rear-end collisions occur when drivers take their eyes off the road for just a few seconds. Behavior like checking a message on your phone can take your eyes away from the vehicle ahead of you and give you less time to react in the case of a sudden stop.
Angle Accidents
Angle accidents occur when one vehicle collides with another at an angle. While not one of the most frequent accidents, it is important because it causes the majority of fatalities and injuries. Disregarding stoplights, yield signs, or changing lanes without looking are common causes of angle accidents. There are three factors that cause a disproportionate number of these serious collisions every year:
- Don’t Speed. The fact is simple, if you avoid speeding, you drastically lower your risk of being in a serious car accident.
- Never drive under the influence. It’s another simple fact, driving while impaired causes a huge amount of damage and suffering every year. Roughly 29% of fatal accidents were caused by impaired drivers last year.
These two behaviors are incredibly reckless. If you are involved in a car accident where the other party was speeding or driving under the influence, you may be entitled to compensation. Reaching out to an experienced Jackson car accident attorney is the first step to exploring your options.
Speaking With An Experienced Lawyer
If you are injured in an automobile accident as a result of reckless or negligent driving in Mississippi, you may have legal options available to you. Contact the Jackson personal injury lawyers at Germany Law Firm, PLLC for a free consultation today at 601-488-1367.