When accidents occur, we often struggle to determine what it was that may have caused the unfortunate event. We tend to brush off most accidents as being ‘unfortunate’ and nothing more and even sometimes relate the incident to God himself.
It’s hard for people who have an accident to blame themselves, especially when they remain oblivious to events building up to the incident. We often hear people associate their problems with other aspects of their surroundings, for instance a car crash tends to be the result of icy roads, hazardous weather conditions or the sun obscuring vision. When, in reality, if they had taken the proper precautions, the accident could have been avoided. However, it is only when the injured party involves legal professionals like the police or a personal injury lawyer dothan (should that be where they are) that the facts come to light.
So is there any truth behind the saying that many accidents are simply “an act of God” or do we need to start taking care of ourselves a little better?
An act of God is usually associated with an event that exclusively results from natural causes that couldn’t be prevented by any form of caution or foresight. While there are probably many scenarios whereby an act of God is a perfectly acceptable explanation, can we really start banding this term about whenever something like a car crash does unfortunately occur?
The truth is that most accidents ARE avoidable and weather conditions or any other associated factors can also be worked around. Can there really be an excuse for someone who decides to tackle hazardous weather conditions head on or who doesn’t take the extra care that’s necessary in certain situations?
Road accidents are unfortunately a recurring phenomenon. As evidenced by statistics from 2012, a total of 1,754 lives were tragically lost due to road accidents, with a staggering peak of 195,723 recorded incidents.
A prominent factor contributing to these accidents is the disregard for traffic regulations by a considerable number of drivers, with some even lacking awareness of these rules altogether. Addressing this issue requires proactive measures on the part of government authorities. Initiatives such as establishing traffic awareness camps could serve as a pivotal step in promoting adherence to traffic rules among drivers. Simultaneously, efforts to enhance the quality of the driving theory test emerge as a valuable strategy. By doing so, drivers could acquire a comprehensive understanding of the regulations, fostering a culture of safer driving.
Another substantial cause underlying a significant portion of road accidents lies in drivers’ tendencies to speed excessively or neglect maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. These accidents often correlate with a lack of awareness and a failure to acknowledge adverse weather conditions. This type of behavior can be a cause of major grievance for those who drive in a more careful manner. Granted, in the event of accidents, the victim can take the help of an experienced auto accident injury lawyer to get financial compensation for their damages, but other than that, the psychological impact can remain for a while. Therefore, it is imperative for road safety campaigns to emphasize the significance of responsible driving practices and heightened awareness to curb these alarming trends.
In the best possible conditions for driving you’ll still need to leave a good 12 metres breaking distance at 20mph. The distance nearly doubles at 30mph and it’s three times that at 40mph. What many drivers fail to realise is that the distance required between vehicles in hazardous conditions is far superior to that of normal conditions.
On top of this, you need to take the speed of impact into account, which will be much faster in hazardous conditions where tyres fail to grip the road as effectively.
So we’re pretty confident that road accidents can’t be related to God but there are many different types of accidents not associated with the road at all. What about fallen trees or chimneys? Is it truly impossible to avoid these accidents without blaming the omnipotent powers from above?
Property owners have a responsibility to ensure no harm comes to others as a result of their negligence; so technically, there are ways around these so called ‘accidents’. It’s important to make sure that any trees, outbuildings, roofs or chimneys are in good shape and not a potential hazard to the surrounding community.
Decaying trees are likely to collapse in severe weather and the storms of November 2013 are an example of how problematic weather can strike when we least expect it. The fact is the owner of the property may be liable if nothing but poor maintenance can be proven.
If we stop using the phrase ‘Act of god’ a little more, we might just be able to start protecting ourselves a little better from unwanted claims. All we need to do is make sure we regularly look after our properties by carrying out regular maintenance and keeping all our belongings in good condition.
Keep an eye on vehicle tyres to ensure they aren’t flat, watch out for hazardous conditions by checking up on the weather before you leave and take some time out to check every aspect of your property commonly associated with accidents, such as chimneys, roofs and trees.
By following this routine regularly, we’re far more likely to stay safe and not have to keep associating our accidents with the Lord. Can I get an Amen?..
Mike James
Content Editor