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Although the phone is often vilified as the most dangerous driving distraction – and with good reason – it may not actually be the biggest issue. It’s just the one that impacts almost all drivers in the same way, since the vast majority of people have phones. But it may not be the largest distraction in its own right. Some studies have found that having children in the car is a bigger distraction for parents than if they were on their phones. The distraction level was found to be 12 times as great. This can cause severe car accidents that could injure passengers or individuals in other vehicles. Any distraction is problematic, but that’s a very concerning increase. What do these distractions look like? The distractions that children create have a wide range. For very young infants, the distraction could simply be crying or whining in the car, which is very common. Older children could ask for snacks or help picking up toys that they’ve dropped on the ground. Parents often wind up handing out items, answering questions, listening to complaints, turning on music and trying to keep children from fighting with one another. Moreover, the distraction coming from children is difficult to handle because parents don’t feel like they can simply ignore it. They’re hardwired to want to help the children, and the children are used to getting that type of assistance. Someone who may be happy to set their phone down and ignore it while they drive just doesn’t have that option. If a distracted parent causes a car accident and you suffer injuries, you need to know if you can seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other costs.

The longer your commute is, the more it likely frustrates you. Many people think of their commute to and from work each day as a form of lost time. Not only is your commute consuming a significant portion of your day, but it also puts you at noteworthy risk. You can potentially get into a crash that forces you out of your job and costs you thousands of dollars in medical care. What are some of the safety concerns that commuters need to consider for their own protection out on the roads? Their afternoon commute is incredibly dangerous According to statistics based on collision data analysis performed by the National Safety Council, the afternoon rush hour is the second most dangerous time of day, following the overnight hours. Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., your chances of getting into a crash are substantially higher than at other times of the day. Fatigue is a concern during both commutes Whether you feel tired in the morning on your way into work or have a mid-afternoon energy slump, as many people do, exhaustion can affect how safe you are on the road. Additionally, you will cross paths with hundreds of other drivers who are also very tired. Heavy traffic means higher risk If your commute falls during the standard morning and afternoon rush hour windows, you will probably be on the roads when the density of traffic is the highest during the day. The more other vehicles there are close to you, the more likely you are to end up in a crash. Commutes lend themselves to distracted driving Given that you view your commute as lost time, it is natural to want to take that time back by listening to an audiobook, catching up with a friend on the phone or eating your breakfast on the way to the office. Your distraction and the distraction of other drivers can significantly increase your chances of getting into a crash. Running late often means cutting corners If you find yourself behind schedule, you may speed or fail to come to a complete stop at an intersection. The choices you make in traffic when under stress may be less safe. Even if you always give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go, you might encounter a driver who was not so cautious and who is now desperately trying to make up for lost time. Identifying and trying to minimize common risk factors during your commute can help you prevent a motor vehicle collision.

Have you ever checked your phone while stopped at the lights? Not only is it dangerous, but it is also illegal in California. Most people know that it is dangerous to use a phone while in motion, but they don’t realize that the same holds true when they’re paused in traffic. Here is why it is such a problem: You might not see a potential hazard Let’s say you pick up your phone, check a text, send a quick email or catch the latest football score. You realize the light is about to change, put the phone down and pull away when it turns green. It sounds fine, but what did you miss while staring at the screen? If you remain looking at the road around you rather than your phone, you can build up a more complete picture of the road before you pull off. It allows you to notice potential dangers and delay pulling away where necessary. You continue to think about your phone According to one survey, you typically still think about what you saw on your phone for almost half a minute. Maybe you are wondering how to reply to the text you read or how on earth your team threw away a great lead again. So even if you pull away from the lights without incident, you are still at an increased risk of crashing for the next few hundred meters. Hopefully, you never pick your phone up at the lights. Yet many drivers do, and one might crash into you. Getting legal help to show they were still distracted by their phone could help you get the compensation you need if injured in a car crash.

A tire blowout is a frightening experience. There was a loud noise that you don’t expect, followed by decreased performance by your vehicle. Depending on the driving conditions at the time the blowout occurs, a driver could completely lose control of their vehicle. Heat from the pavement is often a major contributing factor to tire blowouts when they do occur, so you will be at elevated risk for a blowout when you drive through the desert in the summer, as well everyone else on the road with you. How do you protect yourself from a possible blowout on your next long daytime drive? Keep your tires in decent repair The most effective way to prevent a blowout is to ensure that your tires are in good condition. The more worn the tread on your tires has become, the more susceptible the tire may be to suddenly failing as you drive. Underinflated tires are another risk factor. When your tire shifts on the rim significantly because of inadequate air pressure, that may increase the risk of a blowout. Finally, having more weight in your vehicle than your tires can safely manage will also increase your risk. Keeping the weight of your vehicle at an appropriate level and monitoring the condition of your tires will go a long way toward preventing a blowout. Give other drivers plenty of space While you can keep your own tires in good repair, you have no control over what the person next to you in traffic does with their vehicle. Especially if you notice a vehicle in poor condition close to you, you may want to slow down to give them more space or change your route so that you won’t be at risk if their tire blows out and they lose control of their vehicle. When blowouts do occur, they may give rise to insurance claims or civil lawsuits. If someone else loses control of their vehicle and hits you, you may be able to file an insurance claim aim. In some cases, you may have grounds for a third-party liability lawsuit, such as when there was a defect in the tire that led to the blowout. Learning more about safety rules for driving in the hot California summer will protect you from motor vehicle crashes and help you handle a collision better if one does happen.