Can You Plan Ahead for a Car Accident?
You can prepare for a car accident in advance by taking steps to protect yourself and your passengers. This includes asking everyone to wear a seatbelt, making sure your car is well-maintained, and purchasing adequate car insurance.
Despite your best efforts, you could still end up in an accident that causes serious injuries and property damage. If that happens, a car accident attorney could protect your rights.
Riding Safely to Prepare for Car Accidents
The best thing you can do to prepare for a miami car accident lawyer in advance is to drive and ride as safely as possible. You can take numerous steps to do this, including:
- Wearing a seatbelt at all times, even when going for a short drive in a familiar area
- Asking all of your passengers to wear their seatbelts
- Paying attention to your surroundings and not allowing yourself to get distracted by a cell phone, a passenger, the scenery, or nonessential car equipment (e.g., the air conditioner)
- Driving only when well-rested and sober and making arrangements for someone else to drive if you are drunk or exhausted
- Maintaining a safe rate of speed (e.g., fifty-five miles an hour may be safe on a sunny day, but in heavy rain, it can be dangerous)
- Obeying all traffic signs and signals, including red lights, yield signs, and stop signs
- Staying in your lane and signaling your intention to change lanes ahead of time
If you notice anyone on the road who is not obeying these rules—for example, if they are well over the speed limit and weaving between cars—try to stay away from them. Give plenty of space to anyone or anything, such as objects in the roadway, that could jeopardize your safety.
Car Maintenance Can Prevent Car Accidents
Any advance preparation for car accidents must include taking care of your vehicle. Proper vehicle maintenance can both prevent an accident and save your life if you are involved in a collision.
To ensure your vehicle is in safe condition, you can:
- Take your car in to get checked and have the oil changed regularly.
- Perform safety checks on the brakes, tires, headlights, and windshield wipers in between check-ups.
- Take your car to the mechanic as soon as you notice anything unusual about your vehicle (e.g., it makes a strange sound or does not turn as easily).
- Check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to see if your vehicle has been recalled for safety reasons.
Most of us put a lot of wear and tear on our cars, so it is important that we take care of them. All it takes is one underinflated tire or one burned-out headlight to increase your risk of an accident.
Car Accident Insurance Is Legally Required
In every state, there are laws governing how much insurance a car owner must purchase in the event of an accident. In Florida, for example, the minimum requirements are laid out by Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV):
- You must carry $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP), which will help cover medical bills.
- You must also carry $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL), which will cover any damage you cause to someone else’s car or other property.
- You must carry these policies even during times when you do not or cannot drive your car.
Purchasing your state’s mandatory minimums is an excellent way to prepare for a car crash. Doing so can:
- Ensure you are not stuck paying for accident-related damage out of pocket
- Prevent trouble with the law if and when they find out you are not insured
- Help you afford emergency medical care and follow-up appointments
That said, insurance companies are sometimes reluctant to pay out, even in cases where the accident survivors clearly need and deserve the money. A fort lauderdale car accident attorney can review your policy with you and even negotiate with the insurer to help you seek a fair settlement.
Car Accident Settlements and You
If all else fails and you sustain injuries in a fort myers car accident lawyer, you can turn to the legal system. You have the right to sue whoever caused your crash and pursue compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
- Medical bills
- Property damages
- Loss of wages
- Loss of earning capacity
A car accident law firm could help you pursue these and other damages by, among other things, collecting proof that you are a careful driver who always strives to obey the law.
Let Us Prepare Your Car Accident Case
While you can prepare for a car accident in advance, you cannot always prevent accidents caused by negligence or willfully reckless behavior. Call the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato at (954) 633-8270 to learn about your options following a car accident. We help people like you pursue compensation for negligence-related collisions.
