The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) has reported that close to 6 million car accidents happen on U.S. roads each year. Furthermore, these crashes account for as many as 40,000 deaths every year and injure more than 2 million people annually. The Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) reports that these accidents cost our government, on average, as much as $164 billion annually. If you or someone you know has been involved in a Nevada car accident, contact the Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at H&P Law to learn about your rights and obligations under applicable law.
America’s Drivers
Despite the numbers, drivers generally follow the law, do not drive recklessly on purpose, and are typically engaging in safe behaviors on the roads. That being said, one simple mistake or a flash moment of distraction is all that is needed for a serious car accident to take place. Because many drivers do not go through formal training—simply taking a driver’s test and often many years ago—they do not think about how to improve their skills. Instead, many drivers on U.S. roads simply focus on driving from one destination to another as best they can.
The statistics are not pretty, but is there anything America’s drivers can do to decrease the number of car accidents and resulting injuries and deaths on our roads? Fortunately, while many things are not in our control – as we all have clearly learned during 2020 – there are some things you can do as a driver to help keep yourself and your passengers safe — drive defensively.
Defensive Driving
The term “defensive driving” refers to a driving technique that individuals can use to lower the risk of being involved in a car accident. It is not possible to control the behavior of other drivers, however, but doing your best to anticipate other drivers’ behaviors and react accordingly is critical to staying safe on the road. This is the purpose of defensive driving: to predict what can happen on the roads around when and take preemptive action to prevent a crash. Another purpose of defensive driving is to be prepared in the event of a car accident—such as by always wearing a seat belt. Doing so, according to the NHTSA, the use of seat belts saves as many as 10,000 lives annually. Below are some simple tips and techniques you can use to drive defensively. Be sure to always:
- Stay focused on the road;
- Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Pay attention to your surroundings;
- Keep your car well maintained.
If you follow the above tips, you can help ensure that you and your loved ones stay safe while you are driving on our nation’s roads. The best defense when you are behind the wheel is a good offense. Do everything you can in your power to prevent a car accident.
Our Attorneys Can HelpEven if you drive defensively, you may still be involved in a Nevada car accident. Contact the skilled personal injury attorneys at H&P Law today. We will fight for the best outcome for your case.
