Safety

Adopt these safety habits to decrease your chances of being involved in an automobile accident on your next road trip.

If you frequently travel, you may not think about road safety as much as you should. The truth is that you take a risk every time you drive, and when you do so for lengthy periods, there are even more potential dangers. The best way to avoid an accident is by adopting the following safety habits. If you adhere to them fully and still end up in a crash, call an experienced St. Louis auto accident lawyer to learn about your legal rights.

Check Your Car Before Leaving

If you have a long car ride ahead, you likely have some preparations to make before leaving. Part of that routine should be checking the critical aspects of vehicle maintenance, which are tire pressure, tire wear, and brakes. While experienced people can do these checks themselves, most of us need to see a mechanic. Once you confirm that your car is in good shape, you can set off on your journey confidently.

Switch Drivers

Though many long drives are navigated alone, a significant portion is done with others. This is often the case for road trips in which family or friends take on the journey together. In these situations, do not let one person drive the entire time. This will cause fatigue in that driver and put everyone in danger. Instead, switch off and keep a fresh set of eyes behind the wheel at all times.

Know When to Use Cruise Control

One of your best tools for making a long drive comfortable is cruise control. You can set it to a certain speed, take your foot off the pedals, and get some reprieve. Unfortunately, cruise control is not appropriate at all times. When you are in heavy traffic or inclement weather, using this function will lower your reaction time and put you at risk. Your best bet is to only use it when weather conditions are optimal, and there are few cars on the road.

Keep Your Seatbelt On

At some point in your long drive, you may feel the urge to take your seat belt off. This is a mistake. No matter how uncomfortable you feel with it on, you need to keep wearing it. If you do not, a relatively harmless accident could result in a severe injury.

Be Honest About Your Fatigue

On long drives, and especially ones that go through the night, your chances of becoming fatigued are high. When you do, you cannot try to “tough it out” and keep driving. Instead, switch drivers or stop at an area where you can rest. Even if this means staying at a hotel, you should do it. The cost of a room is much less than getting injured in a car accident.

Safe Driving In Unfamiliar Areas

If you’re like most people, you may feel a little anxious driving in an unfamiliar area. After all, you don’t know the layout of the roads or where all the potential hazards are. However, there’s no need to let anxiety get the better of you. With a little planning and preparation, you can confidently navigate even the most unfamiliar territory. Here are some tips to help you out:

Do Your Homework

Before setting out, do your homework and familiarize yourself with the area you will be driving in. This means researching the route you will be taking. Check for closures, construction, detours, and other potential hazards. Also, take some time to familiarize yourself with the layout of the roads and intersections. 

In addition to familiarizing yourself with the route, it’s also important to ensure you’re familiar with the local traffic laws. This includes knowing the speed limit and any other regulations that may be specific to the area. If you are unsure about any of the local traffic laws, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and follow the posted speed limit. Taking these precautions can help ensure a safe and enjoyable trip when driving in unfamiliar territory.

Plan Your Route

Once you have a good understanding of the area, it’s time to start planning your route. Use a GPS or map app to determine the most efficient route to your destination. Also, it’s generally best to avoid back roads and stick to major highways. This will help you stay on familiar terrain and avoid getting lost. If you need to take a back road, drive slowly and watch for any potential hazards. Also, remember to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination so you can relax and enjoy the drive.

Pay Attention to Traffic Signs and Be Patient

When driving in an unfamiliar area, it’s important to pay attention to traffic signs and be patient. This means being aware of the posted speed limits and obeying all traffic laws. It also means being cautious when approaching intersections, yield signs, and areas where pedestrians are present. 

Make Your Intentions Clear

This is an important point. Always make your intentions clear when driving in unfamiliar places. Use your turn signal to let other drivers know what you’re doing, and don’t make any sudden lane changes. If you need to pull over to get your bearings, do so in a safe and well-lit area. And always yield to pedestrians, even if they don’t seem to be following the rules of the road. 

It’s always important to drive defensively, especially in an unfamiliar area. You never know what you might encounter on the road, so it’s best to be prepared. The above tips can help you stay safe when driving in unfamiliar territory.

St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

Long drives can be dangerous. By following the tips on this list and adhering to general driving safety guidelines, you will make yourself and everyone around you that much safer.

If, despite your best efforts to drive safe, you end up in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver, get in touch with an experienced car accident attorney at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. for free legal advice 24/7.

Let’s discuss six common types of boat accidents and how you can pursue compensation for injuries suffered from a boat accident.

Excessive speed, alcohol use, reckless boating, operator inattention, and inexperience are common reasons for boating accidents. Unfortunately, when these accidents occur, they often cause catastrophic injuries or, worse, death.

Sadly, boating accidents have been on the rise. In 2020 alone, 767 people were killed and 3,191 others injured in boat accidents in the country. Let’s review common types of boat accidents and how you can pursue compensation for injuries suffered from a boat accident.

Crash with Other Water Vessels

Summer is a good time to go fishing and have fun on the water. However, boat operators may lose concentration and crash into other water vessels amidst all the excitement–distracted, inexperienced, drunk, or overly reckless. When this happens, you are likely to suffer severe injuries, given that there are no safety belts on boats.

Collision with a Fixed Object

It’s easy for boat operators to lose sight of objects around them and collide on piers or submerged rocks. Unfortunately, the impact of such a collision may throw you out of your boat and cause debilitating injuries.

Drowning Accidents

Unpredictable weather may ruin your boating experience. Powerful waves can hit your boat and make it overturn. As this happens so fast, you may panic and end up drowning.

Flooding

While boats may be appealing on the outside, not all are mechanically fit for the deep water. For example, a leak in the boat will allow water to pour in, increasing the boat’s chances of sinking due to flooding. This increases your risk of drowning, especially if you don’t know how to swim.

Skiing Accidents

Water skiing can be fun. However, it has its fair share of risks. For example, if an inexperienced boater is pulling you, the odds of hitting the water at a bad angle are high and could leave you with serious injuries.

Falls Overboard

Unsecure seating and rowdy actions are the main causes why skiers, passengers, or even the boat operator fall off the vessel.

You can also fall off the boat due to rough weather or abrupt maneuvering. As a result, you may suffer trauma and other severe bodily injuries.

How Should You Proceed After a Missouri Boating Accident?

If you ever find yourself in a boating accident, it’s important to call for help right away. Immediate rescue can help save lives and reduce the severity of injuries. Then seek medical attention—don’t underestimate any accident as even minor accidents can get out of hand.

Once you are up and running, get in touch with a St. Louis accident attorney. Your attorney can help you pursue compensation for lost income, pain and suffering, and medical bills you may incur due to the accident.

Speak With a St. Louis Injury Lawyer

At The Hoffmann Law firm, we can help you collect solid evidence to prove that you were involved and injured in a boat accident that wasn’t your fault. Contact us today for a free consultation.

While most would like to think of these as a positive development, some recent reports suggest that some safety features fail to deliver.

Unfortunately, car accidents are a common occurrence on Missouri roads, and every year, thousands of people get injured and killed due to the negligence of other drivers. While there is no sure way to prevent all accidents, certain safety features can prevent certain types of accidents and help avoid car accident injuries. With technological advancements, more and more safety features are being added to cars, and modern cars are generally much safer than cars that are a decade old.

It seems that each new model year brings cars with additional safety features and more technological updates. While most would like to think of these as a positive development, some recent reports suggest that some safety features fail to deliver desired effects.

What exactly is the problem?

At least 20 percent of the new car owners have not used 16 of the 33 technology features available in their cars. In its first Driver Interactive Vehicle Experience Report, J.D. Power revealed that some of the technology features that the car owners were not using were safety features. It was found that around 35 percent of the drivers admitted to having never used the automatic parking feature.

The study found that if the driver failed to use the safety technology in the first 30 days of purchase, it is likely that they never will. Considering this, the researchers recommend that dealerships play an essential role by explaining the technology features better to the new car owners.

Another survey was conducted by the University of Iowa in which it was revealed that a large percentage of drivers are not sure of how at least some of the safety features in their car work. As seen in the J.D. Power study, a significant reason for this confusion and uncertainty is the lack of understanding. This can be improved by better education of car buyers by dealerships.

In other states, attempts are being made to educate car owners about the safety features in their cars. The National Safety Council, Department of Transportation, and the University of Iowa have recently started educating drivers on how safety technology works. The idea is to clear the confusion among drivers and stop them from using their safety features effectively. This can help to bring down car accident injuries and fatalities.

If you think you are uncertain about how certain safety features in your car work, we suggest you speak to the car dealer or your mechanic. You can find ample resources to help you acquaint yourself with various safety features in your car.

St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured in a St. Louis car accident, call (314) 361-4242 to discuss your claim with an experienced accident attorney at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. free of charge.