Common Traffic Violations That Cause Auto Accidents
Common Traffic Violations That Cause Auto Accidents – An auto accident can happen at any time and in many different ways. However, in most cases, the cause of a crash is due to careless mistakes and errors that even good drivers can make. Obeying traffic laws can help prevent the possibility of a collision. Below are the five most common traffic violations that can cause an auto accident in Sacramento.
Top Five Common Traffic Violations
- Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol – Drugs and alcohol can impair your driving abilities. Even a small amount of alcohol can affect your judgments. If you are involved in an accident while driving under the influence, you can face jail time, lose your driving privileges, and pay steep fines and penalties. If someone is injured in the accident, you can also be held liable for any damages.
- Speeding – When you’re driving faster than the posted speed limit or at an unsafe speed, you can lose control of your vehicle. Posted speed limits are based on good weather conditions. You should always slow down for adverse conditions such as rain or fog.
- Tailgating – This is one of the common reasons for rear-end crashes. Following the vehicle in front of you too closely can prevent you from stopping in time. You must keep a distance that will allow you to stop without hitting the car even if the driver slams on the brakes for no reason. A good rule to remember is the three-second rule. The rule states that if you see the car in front of you pass an object, you should not pass that same object in less than three seconds.
- Not Obeying Traffic Signs and Signals – When you don’t come to a complete stop or try to beat a light, you have a higher chance of being in an accident. Traffic signs and signals are there to keep traffic flow at a safe pace. Fines for a red-light violation are doubled in California.
- Not Yielding the Right of Way – You can’t make a left turn at an intersection when another car is approaching head on if you don’t have enough time to make the turn. You must yield the right of way to the other vehicle to avoid a hazard.
Being aware of these five traffic violations can help you prevent dangerous and sometimes expensive consequences. Taking a little extra time to focus on the road can help save you stress, money and likely your life.
What to Do after an Auto Accident
What you do immediately after an accident depends on the severity of your injuries. If nobody is injured, you should exchange the following information with all parties involved:
- Name, address, phone number
- Driver license number
- Insurance company
You should also get the name and contact information of any witnesses at the scene. Remember to write down where the collision happened including names of cross streets, the time and day the accident occurred.
If there are serious injuries, you should call 911 for an ambulance to get medical treatment immediately and ask for the appropriate law enforcement agency to respond and write a traffic report. Other conditions that require you to call the police include:
- One of the drivers is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- One of the drivers fled the accident scene.
- City property has been damaged (light pole, signal light, etc.).
Watch YouTube Video: Top 5 Safe Driving Tips. In this video, CARFAX provides five driving safety tips to help you get home safely.
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney. Auto accidents can cause serious consequences. If you are or a family member has been injured in a vehicular accident, give me a call at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice.
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Common Traffic Violations That Cause Auto Accidents: AutoAccident.com
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