If you are like many people, you cannot wait to have fun in the sun at Myrtle Beach. You have likely made your hotel reservations, and you have planned a fun-filled week. You know the places you want to eat and all of the things you want to see and do while you are on vacation.
The last thing in your plans is spending your valuable vacation time dealing with the repercussions of an auto accident. Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of that with these three tips.
1. Avoid Distracted Driving
In 2017, 3,166 people were killed by distracted driving and many more were injured. Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes off the road or your attention away from driving. Some of the most common distractions are:
- Texting
- Using your cell phone
- Following your GPS
- Eating
- Adjusting your music
- Talking to your passengers
Myrtle Beach has much to see and do. The only way to ensure your participation in your planned activities is to concentrate on getting where you need to go in one piece. Avoid anything that will put you at risk of being distracted. This may not only help you avoid an accident but may help save a life.
2. Concede Pedestrians the Right-of-Way
Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce estimates that during 2016 approximately 18.6 million people visited Myrtle Beach. While these numbers are estimates for the entire year, tourism numbers rise as schools get out for the summer and families flock to the beach for vacation.
When you ride down Ocean Boulevard or other streets in the city, you will likely see large numbers of people walking the streets. With many restaurants, attractions surrounding the hotels, and limited parking, walking is sometimes easier than driving.
People are supposed to wait until a corner or crosswalk to cross the street, but this is not always the case. People can dart across the street at any given time. Always remain vigilant, and remember that although pedestrians do not always have the right-of-way, you do not want to hit anyone.
3. Increase Your Following Distance
Depending on the time of day, traffic in Myrtle Beach can be bumper to bumper and travel at a slow crawl. You may be tempted to stay bumper to bumper with the vehicle in front of you, but this can cause an accident. Sudden turns, stops, and vehicles cutting across several lanes of traffic to reach their destinations can easily put you at risk.
When you increase your following distance, this will help you avoid hitting the car in front of you when unexpected moves take place. Increase your following distance to help reduce your chances of having to slam on brakes and have the car behind you rear-end you. Reducing your sudden need to brake will also increase the lifespan of your brakes.
Consider using the 3-second following rule. Choose a fixed object such as a road sign. Once the car in front of you passes it, slow down until it takes you at least 3 seconds to reach the same point. If you reach the point before the 3 seconds is up, slow down because you are following slightly too closely.
If you are injured in an auto accident in Myrtle Beach, your accident might involve a tourist who may be from out of state. Because of this, seek the services of an experienced auto accident attorney.
Here at Palmetto Injury Lawyers LLC, we will be able to help you secure the compensation you deserve from your accident. Give us a call today to schedule your consultation or ask any questions you have.