An injury can have significant impacts on every aspect of your life. Your health, finances, and overall quality of life can take a significant hit after you have been injured. If you take proactive steps, many of the common personal injuries such as car and bike accidents, can be prevented or minimized. In this article we will be offering essential advice on how you can minimize the risk of common personal injuries, and what you can do to avoid them as well.
Avoiding Car Accidents
In 2021 there was nearly 43,000 fatal car crashes in the U.S as well as an estimated 6,102,936 police reported vehicle accidents. These numbers are immense and helps illustrate how car crashes are one of the most common causes of injuries world wide. To help prevent causing a car accident, consider doing the following:
- Stay Focused: The NHTSA estimates that sending one text while driving takes your eyes off the road for roughly 5 seconds, at 55 miles per hour that is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. While driving all of your attention should be on the road ahead of you. Try and avoid sending a text, talking on the phone, eating food, or adjusting the radio. Any time where your eyes are off the road the chances of you getting into an accident increases drastically.
- Follow Traffic Laws: In 2023 Utah drivers caused 9,367 accidents from speeding. Obeying traffic laws is crucial to keeping you safe, obey the speed limit, traffic signals, and any road signs. Be sure that you use your turn signals, and allow adequate room for other drivers to merge into your lane.
- Never Drive Under the Influence: Alcohol and drugs can heavily impair your abilities, leading to delayed reaction times and poor judgement. Driving under the influence is one of the most reckless things that you can do, so if you are planning on going out for the evening always opt for a designated driver or the use of public transport if you have consumed substances.
- Maintain Your Vehicle: Getting regular vehicle checks and maintenance can prevent malfunctions in your vehicle that may cause accidents.
Preventing Bike Accidents
Biking is an incredibly fun way to get around, it is eco friendly and is a great way to exercise. Bicycling also comes with its fair share of risks, as you are a small unprotected vehicle that has to share the road with much larger cars and trucks. To keep yourself safe and avoid getting injured:
- Wear Protective Gear: A helmet is your first defense against head injuries, and can decrease your chances of receiving a traumatic brain injury by over 80%. Make sure that your bike has reflective light strips on it and that you are wearing bright or reflective clothing.
- Follow Road Rules: Make sure that you are using a bike lane if it is available and obey traffic laws as if you are driving a car.
- Signal Your Intentions: Use hand signals to communicate with drivers and pedestrians to show where and when you are planning on turning.
- Stay Alert: As a cyclist being aware of your surroundings is crucial to your safety. Make sure that you are aware of the vehicles around you this includes parked cars that may open their doors unexpectedly, or a car making a turn without signaling.
Avoiding Dog Bites
While dogs are typically known as man’s best friend, things can go wrong when you are interacting with them. To try and prevent your chances of getting bit:
- Ask for Permission: It is best to assume that any strangers dog might be aggressive. Before you go and pet a dog always ask for the owner’s permission. Sometimes a dog may not be properly socialized or they may overreact to new people, asking for permission can eliminate the unknown about the dog and ensure your safety.
- Do Not Provoke: Avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs, especially if they are eating, sleeping, or with their puppies.
- Teach Children How to Behave Around Dogs: In the U.S last year there were more than 4.5 million dog bites, and children were the most likely to be bitten. Teaching a child to behave around dogs can be the difference between a healthy interaction and a serious injury. Teach your kids to be gentle around dogs and to not make sudden movements, doing this can help reduce the likelihood of being bitten by a dog.
Avoiding Motorcycle Accidents
While motorcyclists only make up 3% of all registered vehicles in America according to Forbes, “you are 28 times more likely to die and four times more likely to be injured in an accident”. With these much higher risks it is crucial to reduce risk you can do this by:
- Wear Protective Gear: On a motorcycle you are driving at the same high speeds as a car, but without the same protection. To protect yourself make sure you wear appropriate protective gear. Always wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle to protect yourself from head injuries. Besides a helmet, consider wearing gloves, boots, and a jacket designed for motorcycle riders, these items can help pad your injuries in the event of an accident and can prevent road rash and burns from a crash.
- Practice Defensive Driving: As you are the smallest vehicle on the road, it is best to assume that you are not visible to other drivers. Try to be aware of this and anticipate that a vehicle does not see you when making turns or changing lanes and be prepared to react to their actions.
Preventing Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries can result from various incidents, including falls, sports injuries, and vehicle accidents. In order to reduce the risk of a TBI you can:
- Wear Appropriate Safety Gear: Helmets are crucial for any sort of biking, motorcycling, skateboarding, or contact sports. Wearing a helmet can greatly reduce the risk of concussion and can help protect you if you have been injured.
- Secure Your Home: If you have young children consider installing safety gates around stair cases and window guards around windows to help protect them from falls.
- Drive Safely: By following traffic laws, going the speed limit, as well as maintaining a safe following distance you are less likely to cause a car accident and prevent a situation where you may suffer a traumatic brain injury.
- Exercise Caution in Sports: If you are playing any sports that are contact be sure to follow any safety protocols that have been put in place in addition to using the appropriate gear.
Preventing personal injuries requires awareness, preparation, and a commitment to safety in all areas of life. By adopting and trying to follow the discussed practices, you can significantly reduce their risk of injury, ensuring a healthier, safe future for yourself and all those around you. If you have been injured it is crucial that you seek the assistance of the best personal injury attorneys in Salt Lake City at LifeLaw. Let our team of personal injury attorneys fight zealously for your rights against an insurance company, ensuring that you receive the compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured contact us today for a free consultation and to discuss your options further.