What Is The First Thing You Should Do When a Motor Vehicle Starts to Skid?

A motor vehicle skid is an unsettling driving experience. Your response determines whether your life and others in traffic will be safe. If the motor vehicle begins to skid, the first thing to do is to stay calm and steer the wheel lightly in the direction of the intended movement of the car. Being aware of the first thing you should do when a motor vehicle starts to skid may prevent incidents and injuries. As a trusted name in car accident legal services in New Mexico, Parnall Law is here to guide you through your rights and next steps in case of an accident.

What Skidding Means?

Skidding is the situation where your car tires lose their traction on the road, resulting in loss of control. It occurs on icy, wet, or loose-gravel roads. Your vehicle’s traction is reduced, and it becomes difficult to steer or stop your vehicle. The AARP’s rules on skidding list sudden acceleration, sharp turns, or hard braking on poor road conditions as the major causes of skidding.

Drivers often view a skid as a mechanical failure of some sort, while more often, in fact, it is actually related to a combination of human error and environmental factors. Knowing the physics behind it can also explain why this happens. Skidding sets in when the force you put on your tires outperforms the grip of your tires upon the road surface. This loss of control, creating terrifying accidents, is caused by an imbalance.

Main Causes of Skidding

Numerous factors increase the likelihood of skidding, including the following:

1. Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, or ice can greatly reduce traction.
2. Speeding: Too much speed on slippery ground reduces vehicle stability.
3. Sudden braking: This can make wheels lock and skid because the brakes slam on.
4. Worn-out Tires: Tires with improper tread or inflation will have poor traction on the road.
5. Road Hazards: Potholes, gravel, or oil spills can cause loss of traction.

Knowing what causes a skid helps drivers take steps to prevent it before it occurs. Examples include periodic checks on tires and driving according to road and weather conditions that minimize incidents of skidding. According to the DMV’s safety guide, smooth speed and maneuvers help minimize instances of skids.

Besides that, taking good care of your vehicle will also help in preventing skids. In fact, well-maintained brakes, tires, and suspension can provide a better opportunity to be in control during adverse situations.

What Is the First Thing You Should Do When a Motor Vehicle Starts to Skid?

First, you are supposed to remain calm at the onset of a motor vehicle skidding without any sudden reactions including heavy braking. Once you remain calm, then you are set to react appropriately. How to do it:

• Ease off the accelerator: This helps to regain control by reducing speed.
• Steer in the Direction You Want to Go: If the rear of your vehicle slides to the left, steer left to straighten out.
• Avoid Sudden Stops and Accelerations: These further reduce traction.
• Watch the path you want to go: It helps to keep an eye on where you want to go and steer in that direction.

It’s also essential to recognize the type of skid you’re experiencing. For example:

• Rear-Wheel Skid: The rear of your vehicle starts to slide sideways. To straighten out, steer in the direction of the skid.
• Front-Wheel Skid: If the front tires lose traction, then your car will slide straight when you go to make a turn. Take your foot off of the accelerator while steering the car in the direction you want to go.

These, if done properly, would go a long way in reducing the possibility of an accident and in allowing drivers to drive much more safely, even under unfavorable conditions. But that is not all; the management of immediate hazards creates better confidence and readiness for these unseen events on the roads, whether it is wet pavement or icy curves. Proper preparation with what has been learned can make it easier for all.

What to Do in Case of Crash?

Knowing what to do in case of an accident will be the most important thing if a skid leads to an accident. Here’s what you should do in case of an accident:

1. Safety First: Check yourself and others for injury, and move to a safe location if possible.
2. Call Emergency Services: Call 911 to report the accident and request medical services if necessary.
3. Exchange Information: One should share the contact and insurance information with the other parties involved in the incident.
4. Document the Scene: Snap photos of the damages, road conditions, and even your injuries, if any, as evidence.
5. Inform Your Insurance Provider: Inform your insurance provider immediately about the incident.
6. Seek a Lawyer: Approach a car accident lawyer for further advice about rights and interests.

Document the scene, including any skid marks; these can be good evidence about the dynamics of your accident. This information may be helpful in filing an insurance claim or taking legal action.

Defensive Driving Tips to Avoid Skidding

Many incidents of skidding can easily be prevented by simply being proactive in your driving. Consider these defensive driving tips:

1. Control Your Speed: Drive at a safe speed; never drive faster than the road and weather conditions permit.
2. Increase the Following Distance-Out: Distance yourself further from the car in front to allow a longer reaction time.
3. Smooth Braking: Brake smoothly, avoiding a sudden loss of traction.
4. Proper Tires: Better grip assured with seasonal or all-weather tires.
5. Practice emergency maneuvers: Learn how to handle a skid in a controlled environment, such as on a driving course.

Defensive driving not only involves responding but also looking ahead in anticipation. The more observant and ready for what may happen, the better one is able to handle risks while on the road.

Need Help After a Car Accident? Contact Us Today

A car accident can derail one’s life. If you have been in a collision that was a result of skidding for any reason, contact Parnall Law today or call us at (505) 268-6500 so we can make sure that you get the legal representation and compensation you deserve.