Car crashes are the leading cause of injuries in the U.S., resulting in the death of 42,000 people per year. In Minneapolis alone, over twenty people die in fatal car accidents every year. If we could reduce the number of car accidents in our country by just twenty percent, we would save thousands of lives and millions of dollars per year. That is why we have helped prepare this information on how everyone can do their part in reducing the number of car accidents. As a Minneapolis car accident attorneys, we have seen it all. We can assure you, a small effort to drive safer can lead to a major improvement in everyone’s overall safety on the road.
One easy way to reduce the number of car accidents is for everyone to focus more while driving. Distracted drivers are the number one cause of car accidents in America. Distractions come in all shapes and sizes, but include using a cell phone, applying makeup, eating, changing the radio station, rubbernecking and more. Statistics show that around 98% of car accidents involve at least one distracted driver. Perhaps the most dangerous of all of these distractions is rubbernecking -the act of looking at what’s going on with other vehicles on the road, usually due to an accident. When drivers do this, they almost always reduce their speed unintentionally, causing a hazard for vehicles behind them. If you were injured by a distracted driver, contact the Minneapolis Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Schmidt-Salita Law Team today.
Another easy way for people to reduce the number of vehicle crashes is to stop driving while tired. Driver fatigue is highly dangerous and can be even more deadly than driving under the influence of alcohol. Tired drivers often swerve between lanes and have too slow of a reaction time to appropriately deal with street signs and road hazards. If a driver falls asleep behind the wheel, then their driving becomes completely unpredictable. As Minnesota Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation lawyers, we have seen numerous car accidents caused by someone falling asleep while driving. Let us tell you, these auto accidents are never pretty.
Of course, we all know how dangerous driving while intoxicated can be. Not only can drunk driving result in major legal penalties, it can also leave you with the haunting knowledge that you took an innocent person’s life. Every 22 minutes someone dies due to a DUI car accident. After working as a Minnesota auto accident lawyers for over 75 Years’ combined experience, we can’t tell you how many people we have seen ruined emotionally and financially after one night of partying turned into years of regrets.
Lastly, it is important to drive defensively and not speed. Aggressive driving not only leads to road rage, it also results in dangerous driving. Speeding is even more dangerous and it is a factor in over 30% of all auto accidents. An easy way to reduce your aggression and speed on the road is to leave the house earlier to allow yourself more time to reach your destination. Additionally, check the traffic report before you get on the road in order to prepare an alternate route if necessary.
While we can’t avoid all dangers on the road -such as bad weather, poor driving by other vehicles, mechanical failures or animals in the road- defensive, alert driving can help keep you safe. After all, the earlier you see a hazard, the more time you have to respond to the problem before it results in an accident. Speeding, driving distracted, drinking and exhaustion can all greatly reduce your reaction time, making you far more likely to be involved in an accident, even if the crash is not your own fault.
Of course, some accidents are completely unavoidable no matter how well you drive. If you were involved in a crash due to no fault of your own, contact the Minnesota Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation attorneys at The Schmidt-Salita Law Team. You will be properly represented and receive all necessary care and assistance to get back to your life before the accident.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Minnesota auto accident attorney, contact our office today.