Car Accident / Crashes: Frequently Asked Questions

Car collisions are a primary cause of accidental deaths in the United States. Here we have provided answers to some FAQs from the U.S. General Services Administration that may help you stay more safe on the road. If you have been in a car collision that was someone else's fault, a lawsuit can help you pay your bills and compensate for your pain and suffering. Fill out this short form today for your free legal review before your time runs out.

What are the guidelines for cell phone usage in GSA vehicles?
What are some precautionary measures to take during bad weather conditions?
What are some defensive tactics to prevent road rage?
What are some ways to prevent car jacking / theft?
What are some tips I can follow to accommodate larger vehicles?

What are the guidelines for cell phone usage in GSA vehicles?

Drivers who are distracted by talking on a cell phone or dialing numbers while they are driving are causing more and more accidents. Some municipalities have banned using cell phones while driving because it has caused such a major problem. If it's necessary to talk while driving, the safest way is to have a hands-free cell phone cradle installed in the car which offers the ability to speak while driving with two hands. Even so, remember to stay aware of what is going on around the vehicle and on the road. It's easy to get so engrossed in conversation that an exit is missed or something other drivers are doing goes unnoticed. Better yet, wait until arriving at a destination or pull over to the side of the road to begin cell phone conversations.

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What are some precautionary measures to take during bad weather conditions?

Driving in bad weather is a major cause of accidents. When driving, particularly on a long trip, make sure to stay tuned to radio reports about weather conditions. Upon hearing that an ice storm, hurricane, tornado, flood, hail, or other severe weather is expected on the chosen route or intended destination, change travel plans. Any reason for going on the trip cannot be as important as keeping safe. If already in an area that is being hit by bad weather, don't try to drive out of it. Seek shelter for both and wait for the storm to pass.

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What are some defensive tactics to prevent road rage?

Increasingly crowded highways and traffic backups cause many drivers to lose control and become extremely aggressive. Upon encountering an aggressive driver: Don't challenge them, and stay as far away as possible. Consider taking down their license plate number and reporting their behavior to police so they won't hurt themselves or someone else.

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What are some ways to prevent car jacking / theft?

Thousands of unsuspecting motorists are carjacked every year. To minimize the danger of being carjacked:

Think of saving your life first. Only then, think of the car and what's in it.
If another car bumps your car, stay inside with the windows shut and the door locked and drive to the nearest police or fire station.
Don't stop at isolated pay phones, cash machines or newspaper machines where that may facilitate becoming a carjacking victim.
Stay alert to people lurking near or moving toward the parked car.
Always keep the windows of your car shut and doors locked, whether in or out of the car.
Park only in well-lighted areas.

To prevent the car from being stolen:

When leaving personal property in the car, leave it in the trunk.
Keep the vehicle in a garage (if possible) and lock the garage door.

If the car is stolen, have the following information to give to the police: Year, make, model and color of the car, as well as the vehicle G tag number. Also, the approximate time the car was stolen. A description of anyone you may have seen loitering around the car before it was stolen can also be helpful. If possible, the names of any witnesses that may have been in the area at the time the vehicle was stolen.

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Sharing the road with larger vehicles

When driving on the highway you are at a serious disadvantage if involved in a crash with a larger vehicle. In crashes involving large trucks, the occupants of a car, usually the driver, sustain 78 percent of fatalities. In order to keep you and your family safe when driving around large trucks and buses, you should be extra cautious. Sharing the road with larger vehicles can be dangerous if you are not aware of their limitations. Here are a few tips to help you drive safer to prevent an accident and minimize injuries and fatalities if one does occur.

Cutting in front can cut your life short.
If you cut in front of another vehicle, you may create an emergency-braking situation for the vehicles around you, especially in heavy traffic. Trucks and buses take much longer to stop in comparison to cars. If you force a larger vehicle to stop quickly this could cause a serious, even fatal accident. When passing, look for the front of the truck in your rear-view mirror before pulling in front and avoid braking situations!

Buckle your seat belt
Always buckle your seat belt. Seat belts are your best protection in case of a crash, especially if you get into an accident with a large vehicle such as a truck. Trucks require a greater stopping distance and can seriously hurt you if your car is struck from behind. However, your seat belt will keep you from striking the steering wheel or windshield, being thrown around, and from being ejected from the car. Wearing a seat belt is the single most important thing you can do to save your life, especially in a crash with a large truck.

Watch your blind spots
Large trucks have blind spots, or No-Zones, around the front, back and sides of the truck. Watch out! A truck could even turn into you, because these No-Zones make it difficult for the driver to see. So, don't hang out in the No-Zones, and remember, if you can't see the truck driver in the truck's mirror, the truck driver can't see you.

Inattentive drivers
Inattentive drivers do not pay attention to driving or what is going on around them. They can be just as dangerous as aggressive drivers when they drive slowly in the passing lane, ignore trucks brake lights or signals, and create an emergency-braking situation. They also create dangerous situations when they attempt to do other things while driving, such as using cell phones. When you are driving, please focus only on the road. If you need to attend to another matter while driving, safely pull over in a parking lot or rest stop.

Aggressive drivers
Aggressive drivers can be dangerous drivers. They put themselves and others at risk with their unsafe driving. Speeding, running red lights and stop signs, pulling in front of trucks too quickly when passing, and making frequent lane changes, especially in the blind spots of trucks, can create dangerous and potentially fatal situations on the road. These situations can lead to road rage not only for the aggressive driver, but also for others sharing the road.

Avoid Squeze play
Be careful of trucks making wide right turns. If you try to get in between the truck and the curb, you'll be caught in a "squeeze" and can suffer a serious accident. Truck drivers sometimes need to swing wide to the left in order to safely negotiate a right turn especially in urban areas. They can't see cars directly behind or beside them. Cutting in between the truck and the curb increases the possibility of a crash. So pay attention to truck signals, and give them lots of room to maneuver.

Never drink and drive
Drinking and driving don't mix. Alcohol affects a person's ability to make crucial driving decisions, such as braking, steering, or changing lanes. Remember, you are not the only one in danger when you decide to drink and then drive. You are sharing the road with everyone including large vehicles and your chances of getting into an accident are greatly increased. If you get into an accident with a truck, you're out of luck. The odds of surviving a serious accident with a large truck are too low. However, if you do live through it without serious injury, think of your higher insurance rates, your large legal fees, and other social and professional setbacks it will cause you. So think before you drink.

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