Car Accidents
Protect Your Friends: Tips for Avoiding Impaired Driving This Halloween
Halloween is the highlight of fall for many Missourians. Dressing up in great costumes, heading out to parties, and enjoying fall treats – including, for adults, the occasional drink – can all be a great way to celebrate the end of fall and kick off the winter season.
No matter where you’re going or how you plan to party, you can help protect yourselves and others from a serious accident by keeping these safety tips in mind:
- Find a sober way home before you head out. Whether you decide to drink or not, you’ll be covered if you have plans before you leave the house. Choose a designated driver, look up taxi companies in your area, or walk to nearby parties to avoid driving if you’ve had a drink.
Census Data Paints a Sobering Picture of Fatal U.S. Car Accidents
The U.S. Census Bureau collects data on a number of dangerous and deadly accidents suffered in the United States each year, including the rates of fatal U.S. car accidents. Data collected in recent years offers both good news and bad news. While the total number of deaths in auto accidents nationwide has been dropping in recent years, more than 30,000 people still lost their lives in car accidents as recently as 2009.
Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of death among younger Americans, including children and young adults. Although occupants of regular motor vehicles suffer most of the deadly injuries car accidents inflict, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and others outside the vehicle also lose their lives in crashes each year.
Why You Need More Than Missouri’s Minimum Auto Insurance
Missouri law currently requires drivers to carry certain types of auto insurance and minimum amounts of coverage. These include minimum limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $10,000 per accident for property damage.
While this minimum insurance provides valuable protection in many accidents, it isn’t enough to ensure you’re fully covered if you’re in an auto accident, either within Missouri or elsewhere in the U.S. Accidents involving animals, certain injuries, and accidents with uninsured or underinsured drivers may leave you vulnerable to astronomical costs for medical bills, auto repair, and other losses.
What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident
The moments immediately following a car accident are frightening ones. What should you do to protect yourself and the people in your vehicle? How can you protect your legal rights as well? Many aggressive Missouri car accident attorneys offer tips, such as the following:
- Stay calm. Taking a few deep breaths can give you space to calm down and think. The ability to stay calm and in control can be crucial when it comes to making decisions that can help others.
- Make sure you and your passengers are okay. If someone needs medical help, contact emergency medical services by calling 911 or your local emergency number.
Why Electric Vehicles Survive Crashes So Well
In addition to saving gasoline, lowering carbon emissions, and generally being friendlier to the environment, electric vehicles are also showing promise in crash tests. The Tesla Model S recently passed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s five-star crash test safety rating with flying colors, and other electric vehicles have also done well in crash testing.
Because experienced Missouri and Illinois car accident attorneys have seen the devastation a poorly-designed vehicle can cause during a crash, many are interested in what makes electric vehicles safer. Additionally, how these safety features can be expanded upon to cover vehicles without electric or hybrid motors as well can safe countless lives.
Does Your Teen Understand Driving Safety? Ask!
Teens all over Missouri will be heading back to school this fall, and many will be driving their own vehicles to school and other activities. Double-check your teen’s knowledge of driving safety by asking him or her the following questions.
If your teen doesn’t know the answers, work together to set the “ground rules” for safe driving, and give your teen the information he or she needs to make safe decisions.
- What “safety steps” should you take before starting the car? Checking for flat tires, leaks, or other damages before getting in a vehicle is wise, as is making sure there are no people or pets in the immediate area that might be hit. And never forget to buckle your seat belt!
Stay Awake, Stay Safe: Tips to Avoid Drowsy Driving
Fatigue and sleepiness behind the wheel are major causes of car, truck, and bus accidents, as every aggressive Missouri accident attorney knows. Rest is a major factor in human health and it is also a major factor in driving safety.
You can help protect yourself and others on the road by keeping in mind these tips for avoiding drowsy driving, courtesy of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
During Pregnancy, Protect Two Lives by Wearing a Seat Belt
Pregnancy brings with it the anticipation of many changes, but some things stay the same including the need to wear a seat belt to protect both yourself and your growing child. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts remain the best protection in case of a car accident, even during pregnancy.
To wear a seat belt properly while you are pregnant:
Tips for Protecting Teen Drivers from Missouri Car Accidents
Receiving a driver’s license and the keys to the family or a personal vehicle are milestones in the lives of nearly all Missouri teens. While being able to drive is a big step toward independence, teens must also be aware of the significant responsibilities that come with getting behind the wheel.
Prevent Missouri Car Crashes: When In Doubt, Yield the Right-of-Way
“Failure to yield the right of way” occurs when one driver doesn’t stop, slow down, or move over when road signs or road rules call for that driver to do so.
Failing to yield the right of way leads to hundreds of Missouri car crashes each year, including accidents with pedestrians, bicyclists, and others on the road.
Have you or a loved one been involved in an
accident? Contact Page Law 24/7
1-800-CAR-CRASH
1(800) 227-2727 or (314) 322-8515