Sometimes, you cannot avoid an accident. How could you stop a person from rear-ending your vehicle while you are stopped at a red light? However, I feel that for the most part car wrecks can be avoided. If an accident is avoided, then you do not have to deal with the insurance companies, repair shops, rental car agencies or attorneys. Also, most insurance companies will raise someone’s rates if that person is deemed at fault for the wreck and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my rates to go up.
Today and throughout this week so far, there have been some inclement weather conditions causing a lot of dangerous road conditions in much of the US. I was thinking about this on my way into work this morning while I was stuck on the icy freeway in heavy traffic while in 3 degree weather. I thought today was going to be a busy day because of how bad the weather has been lately and how that usually drives up the volume of claims. The news was telling me not to go on the roads unless I have to and the schools were closed. However, I had to report to work as scheduled as the economy, while it is better than it has been in recent years, still doesn’t allow me to stroll into the office whenever I feel like it. We all have to be at work on time usually.
What can we do? This is not meant to be a lecture, but maybe we should reflect on our driving habits a little in order to lower our own probability of being involved in an accident. When we know the weather is going to be bad, maybe we should set our alarm clocks earlier the night before so we get dressed and leave our house in the morning with plenty of time to get to work. Let us remember that it’s 4-wheel drive and not 4-wheel stop, and that it is a good idea to slow down and leave more distance between the cars when the roads are wet and/or icy. If we tend to speed then let us think about how much time going 15 mph over the speed limit is really going to save us. If we get in an accident or pulled-over by a police officer, we pretty much lose any amount of time gained. Let us understand that we should not pass someone when it is not safe to do so, or that we cannot run into the back of the car in front of us. Let us make sure that we have enough time to turn left in front of a car that is coming towards us from the opposite direction and if that car hits us, let us conclude that we did not have enough time. However, if you do get into the accident, I am not saying you should admit liability, because it is not a good idea discuss fault with the other party as a lot of times it leads to confrontations. Also, liability is for the insurance adjusters and the lawyers to figure out, not the parties involved in the wreck. If you find yourself in the accident, do what you were told to do by whoever taught you how to drive or refer to my page ‘What to do right after the car accident occurs.”
Thank you for reading my post and please be safe out there on the roads!
