Texas has some of the most beautiful highways and byways in the nation, and – as drivers – we all share the responsibility of helping to keep these roadways safe. Car accidents, however, do happen, and they’re often caused by negligent drivers who don’t take their driving responsibilities seriously enough. When you get behind the wheel, make your safe arrival at your destination your top priority.
Car Accidents and Driver Negligence
Negligent drivers come in a variety of forms, including distracted drivers, drivers who are under the influence, and aggressive drivers. Such drivers endanger everyone on the road. If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, you need an experienced McAllen, Texas, car accident lawyer. The dedicated legal team at George Salinas Injury Lawyers have the experience, skill, and commitment to guide your claim toward just compensation, and we’re here to help.
While driver negligence can present in myriad ways, there are some standout issues that deserve a closer look:
Distracted Drivers
Distracted driving is becoming a bigger and bigger issue on our nation’s roads. As technology provides us with ever-more tantalizing smartphones, some drivers simply can’t put the things down. Driving is a complex and dangerous task that demands one’s undivided attention. When drivers instead allow distractions to interfere with driving safely, they put everyone on the road at risk.
The federal government has recognized the devastating impact that distracted driving has on our roadways and has dedicated a website to the issue, distraction.gov. Distracted driving is identified as driving when your attention is focused on anything other than the critical task of driving safely. Such distractions are classified into three distinct groups:
When it comes to distractions, texting is the mother lode – it engages your vision, your manual dexterity, and your cognitive processes. Drivers who text are distracted, dangerous drivers.
Intoxicated Drivers
It’s well established that driving under the influence of alcohol is both dangerous and illegal – and every driver out there knows it. Unfortunately, many motorists persist in this dangerous habit. Further, drunk drivers are labeled as impaired for a reason – their reaction times are increased; they exhibit poor judgment generally (like the decision to get behind the wheel in the first place), and their physical coordination is impaired. Each of these factors significantly decreases a driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Aggressive Drivers
If you drive, you’ve seen an aggressive driver or two. Aggressive drivers are amongst the most dangerous, and it’s important to recognize the signs indicative of aggressive driving:
Aggressive drivers can be pushed over the edge by nearly anything, but aggressive driving is often the result of what an aggressive driver perceives to be another driver’s slight. Aggressive drivers rarely stick to one specific category of aggression but instead typically embrace several aggressive tactics. For instance, we’ve all seen drivers who erratically change their speed, tailgate, and hurl insults and hand gestures all at the same time.
Speed Kills
Speeding is such a prevalent and dangerous form of aggressive driving that it warrants a more in-depth look. In fact, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety relays that speeding is instrumental in nearly a third of traffic fatalities. When you spot a car moving at dangerous speeds, do whatever you can to safely remove yourself from the pathway of that vehicle.
Doing What You Can to Avoid Aggressive Drivers
Because aggressive drivers are everywhere and because they pose such a substantial danger, it’s useful to consider how you can help de-escalate (or not escalate) these drivers:
Your McAllen, Texas, Car Accident
Car accidents are overwhelming, and if you’ve been involved in one, it’s natural to be confused about how to proceed. By remaining as calm as you can and following a logical progression (whenever feasible), you can help yourself make it through a tough situation:
Get Your Car out of Traffic
A Texas statute guides those involved in car accidents to move their vehicles out of the flow of traffic (whenever possible) and to provide aid to anyone who may have been injured in the crash. Such actions, naturally, aren’t just your legal duty but are also simply the right thing to do.
Leave Your Vehicle
Once you’re completely stopped and it’s safe to do so, get out of your car as quickly as you can – turn on your hazard lights and set up safety flares (if possible).
Attend to Injuries
If anyone’s been injured in the accident, call 911 for emergency aid immediately. Don’t discount seemingly minor injuries – such injuries can quickly become more serious.
Compile Evidence at the Scene
Once you’ve attended to the issue of safety, it’s in your claim’s best interest to document the scene of the accident. This includes photographing and/or videotaping the scene with your phone, noting any extenuating circumstances (such as inclement weather or road conditions), and collecting eyewitness testimonies and contact information.
If You’ve Been Injured in a Car Accident, Contact an Experienced McAllen, Texas, Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured by another driver’s negligence, the skilled car accident lawyers at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help. We have the experience and dedication to fight for your claim’s most positive resolution, so please contact us to schedule an appointment today.
