This past Saturday night, October 8, a tragic vehicle accident occurred on I-20 as a result of a blown tire.
Anoa Sulaiman, 25 years old, was driving a 1995 Lexus GS300 westbound on I-20. According to Atlanta Journal Constitution, as Anoa Sulaiman was driving, her right rear tire blew out. When the tire blew out, her vehicle swerved and hit a 2003 Ford Expedition.
Christopher Saladrigas, 27 years old, was ejected from the SUV and tragically died at the scene. At this time, no charges have been filed. Our thoughts are with Saladrigas’ family and friends.
Car accidents happen every day. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were about 5,811,000 traffic crashes reported to the police in 2008. In those crashes, 37,261 people were killed and 2,346,000 people were injured.
Tips For Avoiding Car Accidents Caused By Blowouts
1. Prepare ahead of time. Periodically, check your tires for sufficient traction (you should be able to get a key into your tires’ grooves) and air pressure (check your car’s manual for the correct levels) as this can help prevent a flat tire in the first place. Also, having two hands on the steering wheel at all times will allow you to maintain control at a moment’s notice.
2. Continue your rate of speed immediately after the blowout. It is important to preserve your car’s momentum as you will lose a great percentage of your car’s traction.
3. Gently counter-steer to offset pulling by the blown tire. This should decrease the chances of drifting into another lane or oncoming traffic.
4. Once the car stabilizes, begin to slow down and carefully pull over to the side of the road.
5. Always drive a safe distance behind the car or truck ahead of you. You can see foreign objects in the road.
If You Cannot Avoid the Accident, Then Remember the Following:
1. First and foremost, if anyone needs emergency medical attention, call 911.
2. Call the police. When the officer arrives, he/she will know exactly what to do. They will gather information from all the drivers involved and witnesses.
3. Do not forget to gather the other driver’s information yourself, including contact information, VIN numbers, license plate number, and insurance information.
4. It is also highly recommended that if you have a camera, you should take pictures of the accident scene and of the cars involved. Take pictures of skid marks and any other part of the accident scene. You also want to take pictures of bruises or marks that were a result of the car accident.
5. If you have an injury from the car accident, you should see a doctor. Car accidents can result in extremely serious injuries. Some injuries do not become apparent until afterwards. This is why it is crucial to seek a medical exam after an injury from a car accident, no matter how small.
6. Do not admit fault. In some circumstances, you may be tempted to admit fault without knowing all the facts surrounding the accident.
7. Do not sign any papers without understanding what you are signing.
8. When talking to insurance companies, use caution. They are trained professionals and are not working for you. You may want to contact our Georgia Accident Lawyers to help protect your interests, especially when insurance companies may be unfair or unreasonable.
9. Make sure to obtain and save all your receipts from the expenses you incurred as a result of the car accident.
10. Do not discuss the case with anyone except your doctor or your lawyer.
