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7 Common Car Accidents and How To Avoid Them
Let’s face it: accidents happen. And when they do, you might be looking at car repairs and injuries as well as possible increases to your insurance premium. Safe driving can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe and your premium in check. Here are seven common car accidents and tips on how to help avoid them:
- Rear-end Collisions
- Parked Car Damage
- Single-vehicle Accidents
- Windshield Damage
- Crashes at Intersections
- Parked Vehicle Theft
- Backing Collisions
1. Rear-end Collisions
Rear-end collisions are a common reason for auto insurance claims. Whether you are the driver who hits a vehicle in front of you, or the driver who gets hit by a vehicle behind you, these accidents can often be avoided. Consider these tips:
- Keep your distance. Drive far enough behind the car in front of you so you can stop safely. This is especially true in inclement weather. Stay at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you, and longer if you’re in a heavier vehicle. Extend the timing when weather conditions are bad.
- Drive strategically. Avoid situations that could force you to suddenly use your brakes. If a driver is following you too closely or isn’t paying attention, you might be rear-ended.
- Don’t get distracted. Never take your eyes off the road to eat, read a text message or find your phone. If the driver ahead of you stops suddenly, it only takes a second or less of not paying attention to rear-end their vehicle.
- Don’t drive when drowsy or under the influence. You’re more likely to make driving errors when you’re sleepy or impaired by drugs or alcohol.
2. Parked Car Damage
Another common cause of auto damage: having a parked vehicle hit by another car. Whether you’re leaving your car in a parking lot or on the road, take steps to help avoid parked car collisions and claims. Here are some suggestions:
- Go the distance. Don’t park in the busiest part of a parking lot. Instead, select a space away from heavy traffic. You’ll help reduce your chance of getting hit by another car.
- Maximize the space. Always park in the center of a spot. Reposition your vehicle if it’s too close to a parking line. It will help keep your car from being hit by others pulling in to or out of adjacent spots. It can also help prevent dings from swinging doors.
- Park in a garage, if you can. The idea is to put your car in a safe place when you’re not driving it.
- Park street-smart. Try not to park near busy intersections, tight turns and driveways. Other drivers may not see your vehicle and could side-swipe it when passing by.
3. Single-vehicle Accidents
Single-vehicle losses include collisions with road barriers, debris or animals, in addition to rollovers and accidents when driving off-road. It’s not hard to help prevent them.
- Drive right for the weather. Even if yours is the only vehicle on the road on a rainy, snowy or icy day, drive at speeds that allow you to maintain control. Learn how to avoid hydroplaning on flooded roads and refresh your winter driving skills before the season begins.
- Always pay attention. Just because you’re the only person on the road doesn’t mean it’s okay to text, make hands-on phone calls or eat while driving. You never know when conditions might change.
- Don’t drive too fast. Speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities for more than two decades.1 Simply put, speeding is dangerous, even if there is no one else around you.
4. Windshield Damage
Chips and cracks to vehicle windshields are a common auto accident that many drivers don’t realize they can help prevent. Most windshield damage happens when rocks and stones are thrown up in the air by other vehicles. Help prevent this damage by keeping your distance from cars and trucks.
Also, don’t drive behind snow plows when they’re dropping salt or other granular substances. Some pieces are large enough to cause chips and cracks.
5. Crashes at Intersections
Intersections are another place where accidents frequently occur. Distracted drivers may miss traffic signals changing from green to yellow to red. Or they don’t notice vehicles pausing before making turns.
Practice defensive driving to help avoid accidents. Take a moment after the light turns green to make sure no one is coming through the intersection. Look out for drivers speeding to make it through a yellow light on a cross street. When you’re approaching a yellow light, be cautious rather than take chances.
6. Parked Vehicle Theft
No matter where you park your car, there’s always a chance of a break-in. Still, there are things you can do to help prevent potential unnecessary damage to your vehicle. Keep in mind that items stolen from your vehicle could be a loss that you file under your homeowners insurance coverage. Damage that occurs to your vehicle during a break-in would be filed under your auto insurance coverage.
- Never leave valuables in a parked car. Having them in view is an invitation to thieves. Take expensive things with you, store them inside your glove compartment or lock them in the trunk.
- Never park in dark locations. Instead, find spaces in well-lit areas. Plan ahead if you’re parking prior to sunset.
7. Backing Collisions
Whether you’re backing out of a parking spot or your driveway, accidents can happen.
The best thing you can do to avoid accidents when backing up is to avoid having to back up in the first place. When possible, park in a way where you won’t have to back up into traffic, such as pulling through or backing into a parking spot.
Another helpful tip: drive vehicles that have a backup camera. If your car doesn’t have one, you can have one installed.
If you drive a car that’s not equipped with a backup camera, here are some other suggestions of what you can do:
- Before getting into your vehicle, look around to assess your surroundings and traffic patterns.
- Back out using the shortest, most direct route possible.
- Reverse in a straight line, turning only when clear of parked vehicles or any other obstructions.
- Back out slowly while continuing to check traffic around you.
- Use your mirrors and brakes until you’re completely out of the spot and integrated into traffic.
- Never do anything distracting while backing out.
While there are many things you can do to help prevent collisions, theft, injuries or damage to your vehicle, it’s not always possible to avoid the unexpected. Contact your WSIG agent to make sure you have appropriate coverage to meet your needs.
Did you know that in some parts of the world, it's illegal to wear a suit of armor to Parliament? Or that there are places where it's against the law to walk your pet alligator without a leash? In this article, we'll explore some of the most bizarre and unusual laws from around the globe that will leave you scratching your head in disbelief. Join us as we take a journey through the weird and wonderful world of strange laws, where the line between legality and absurdity is often blurred. From the downright bizarre to the oddly specific, these legal regulations are sure to entertain and amuse as we uncover the strange and surprising laws that govern our world. No High Heels Without a Permit (Greece) : In Greece, it's illegal to wear high heels without a permit. This law was introduced to prevent damage to historical sites and monuments, but it's still enforced today, leaving fashion-forward visitors scratching their heads. No Walking Your Pet Alligator Without a Leash (Florida, USA) : In Florida, it's against the law to walk your pet alligator without a leash. While this law might seem like common sense, it's a humorous reminder of the state's unique wildlife. No Chewing Gum (Singapore) : In Singapore, chewing gum is banned to maintain cleanliness and prevent vandalism. While exceptions are made for therapeutic gum, the sale and possession of chewing gum are heavily regulated. No Naming Your Child "Batman" (Mexico) : In Mexico, there's a law prohibiting parents from naming their children "Batman" or any other superhero-inspired name. While it might seem like a fun idea to some, the government takes naming regulations seriously. No Salmon Suspicion (UK) : In the UK, it's illegal to handle a salmon in suspicious circumstances. This obscure law dates back centuries and is still on the books, though its enforcement is rare. No Eating Fried Chicken With a Fork (Gainesville, Georgia, USA) : In Gainesville, Georgia, it's illegal to eat fried chicken with anything other than your fingers. This law is a nod to the city's proud Southern heritage and culinary traditions. No Whistling at Night (Portugal) : In Portugal, it's considered bad luck to whistle at night. This superstition has led to a law prohibiting whistling after dark, with the belief that it can attract evil spirits or bring about misfortune. No Duck Parades Without a Permit (Tennessee, USA) : In Tennessee, it's illegal to hold a duck parade without a permit. While the origins of this law are unclear, it's a humorous reminder of the state's quirky regulations. No Wearing a Suit of Armor to Parliament (UK) : In the UK, it's illegal to wear a suit of armor to Parliament. This law dates back to the 1313 Statute Forbidding Bearing of Armor, which aimed to prevent armed noblemen from intimidating lawmakers. No Selling Gum (Thailand) : In Thailand, it's illegal to sell gum due to concerns about litter and cleanliness. While chewing gum is not prohibited for personal use, the sale and distribution of gum are strictly regulated.
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For many of us, our smartphone is an like an additional appendage--attached to us at all times. From paying bills to shopping online, opening your garage door, or watching your "kitty cam", the options are realistically without limit. You can also waste a lot of time. If you've had a nagging feeling (or checked your screen time and read the hard facts) that you are spending too much time surfing or socializing... there's an app for that. In fact, there are several apps for that! If you need a little help detoxing from your social apps, keep reading. We've compiled a list of apps (sources below) to help you cut down your screen time and focus on the tasks at hand--or at least get a little balance in your life. Built In Smart Phone Solutions • Are you an Android user? The in-built screen time tracker and limiter for Android, Digital Wellbeing, is already installed on your Android phone, and as it turns out, it’s a fairly effective and simple way of beating phone addiction and stopping you from scrolling through Facebook every few minutes when you should be working. To access it, just go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing and parental controls and tap App timers under Your Goals. From here, you can click the Egg timer icon to the right of each app to add your own timer. You can also tap on Work time or Me time under Focus mode to set up apps you’re able to use during these times — for example, you might allow yourself to use only Gmail and Microsoft Teams during Work Time. You can also set the duration of your Work Time for a set amount of time or until you turn it off. By tapping Screen time under Your goals, you can see the stats for your usage of various apps — helpful for breaking the addiction cycle. • For Apple users the in-built screen-time-limiting app, iOS Screen Time, is an excellent way to track your screen time without downloading any other apps. Built into iOS (and iPadOS), you can access it by going to Settings > Screen time. From here, you can set usage limits for all your apps and also schedule Downtime, as well as set which apps you want to allow at all times. You can also access graphs and stats of your screen time on a daily and weekly basis, so you can see how much more or less time you’ve spent on your phone. Screen Time breaks down your app usage into categories like games, social media, etc., so you can quickly see where your time is going and adjust your usage limits accordingly. Screen Time is linked to your iCloud account, so if you toggle on the Share across devices option in the Screen Time menu, you’ll be able to see how you use apps across all your Apple devices. Apps for both Apple/iOS and Android • Freedom (Android and iOS) is used by over two million people worldwide and allows you to create blocklists and schedule time away from the apps that may be most distracting. Whether you want to focus on studying, get your work done, or just break a bad phone habit, the app can help. Just select the websites and apps you want to block to start your session, and Freedom will prevent you from opening them. There’s a Freedom app for both iOS and Android as well as Mac, Windows, Chromebook, and Linux, so it’s easy to create custom blocklists for all of your devices. While Freedom offers a free trial period, a subscription of $39.99 per year or a monthly rate of $8.99 is required to access all of its features. • Space ( Android and Apple ) is a little different than many other screen time apps. Space helps you set goals to be more mindful of your screen usage. When you install Space, you’ll complete a short questionnaire about your smartphone habits and then select a user type that is your best match. The app then sets goals for screen unlocking and time use, sends notifications as screen time increases, and rewards you with different achievement badges when you meet your daily goals — and you can compare your progress with friends and family, too. There’s even an eight-day Phone/Life Balance course that’s packed with relatable and informative research and recommendations to help you balance your phone use with the rest of your life in a more healthy way — something we could all benefit from. • Offtime (Android and Apple) allows you to block not only social media but games and even text messages. You can also determine what you can and can’t access for specific times like Family time, Work Time and Me Time. • The Forest ( download for Android or iOS ) app works by letting you plant a seed and watching it grow into a tree. BUT when you start using social media on your phone, your trees die. The apps is basically a reward system so if you are motivated by virtual rewards, this is a good option. Just for Android • If you need a little help managing your time and beating smartphone addiction, Social Fever (for Android) can help. Its simple interface shows you at a glance how much time you’re spending on various apps including social media. You can easily set timers to notify you when you’ve exceeded your limits — and it’s quick and easy to get started with no need to set up an account. Just install Social Fever, then add the apps you want to track. • AppDetox (Android) allows you to easily create rules to limit access to certain apps. The usual schedule and time-based limitations are available, as well as an option that requires to you walk to earn screen time. AppDetox is one of the few apps that provides a Forever option for apps that cannot be deleted from your phone — and it’s also handy for parents to use to control kids’ screen time. • For those who truly have a problem staying off their phone, Off the Grid (Android) may be for you. Off the Grid completely blocks your phone for a set length of time that you determine. You can schedule your Off the Grid time — for example, if you want to stop using your phone after 8 p.m. every night. You can even set custom auto-reply messages to let friends and family know why you’re not responding, and choose to allow calls in case somebody needs to reach you urgently. While you’re off the grid, you can still access the camera app, handy in case you need to capture a special moment or snap a selfie. • AntiSocial (Android) is one of the best-known screen-time-limiting apps available on Android. While it provides many of the standard features like screen-time limits and app blocking, it has an interesting trick up its sleeve: AntiSocial compares your screen usage data to other people in your age and gender group, so you’ll have an idea if you’re using your device more than your peers. It’s totally free to use, and there are no ads. For your computer • Cold Turkey (iOS and Windows) If you are one of those people who just need to quit cold turkey, this app is for you! It’s a browser extension that allows you to choose specific time limits to block web pages, the entire internet OR your entire computer. One interesting perk: there is a writer feature that forces you to finish writing your paper before you can do anything else. Which is great for writers, bloggers, and students. (Free or $29 for Pro.) • FocusMe l ets you block certain websites and apps for a limited time like most other apps. The difference is that you can also block something FOREVER if you really need to. FocusMe will also remind you to take breaks throughout the day and parents can use the app to set a limit of their kids time on games and what sites they are allowed to visit. The app is $7.95/month or $47.95/year and works on Windows and iOS. Sources: digitaltrends.com, everydayeyecandy.com, pcmag.com
Locations
Derby, KS
228 N. Baltimore
Derby, KS 67037
Phone: (316) 776-0777
Conway Springs, KS
(620)-456-2205
Dodge City, KS
(620) 225-0999
Overland Park, KS
8101 College Blvd
Overland Park, KS 66210
(913) 660-0818
Business Hours
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
- -
- Wednesday
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed
