SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — According to AAA Texas, 2022 has brought many challenges for Texans, including inflation, supply chain issues and rising insurance claims.
While it may be true that all auto insurance claims are inevitable, AAA Texas believes most are. The following tips for the most common auto insurance claims among AAA Texas members in 2022 will make you less likely to file a claim after an accident.
Rear-end collision/fender bender
Auto insurance claims are increasing as more motorists return to the road. AAA Texas reports that he will see a 12% increase in overall claims in 2022 compared to 2021. On average, if a vehicle is considered a total loss, crash losses can cost him over $7,600, not to mention the threat of injury and death. Repairable vehicles have lower repair costs, but many repairs take longer to complete due to supply chain issues within the auto parts market. Rear-end collisions accounted for 18% of all auto insurance claims processed by AAA Texas in 2022. In many cases, these crashes can be the result of distracted driving. To avoid being involved in a rear-end collision or fender-bent accident, AAA Texas recommends the following:
- Put down your phone and focus on the road. Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your risk of a collision.
- If you need to read or write a text message, ask a passenger for help or stop.
- Enable Do Not Disturb on your phone while driving.
- AAA Texas encourages drivers to visit aaa.com/ and pledge to stop distracted driving.
Do not drive distractedly.
backup
Collisions caused by reversing vehicles averaged over $4,380 per claim in 2022. This type of crash accounted for 9% of all auto insurance claims processed by AAA Texas in 2022. Backup sensors and cameras are often placed in tendencies such as bumpers as the number of vehicles increases, the sensors that make these systems useful. Therefore, in the event of a crash, repair costs are high due to the need for additional parts to complete the repair and the need to adjust safety systems. Drivers should be extra careful when backing out of driveways or navigating parking lots while on vacation. Drivers can reduce the risk of being involved in a rear-end collision by following these tips.
- Drive slowly and follow all traffic and directional signs.
- Avoid shortcuts such as crossing parking lanes or rows of parking spaces.
- When backing up slowly, watch out for pedestrians and other vehicles, and don’t rely solely on your backup camera.
- Please be careful with small children, pets, and parents pushing strollers in the parking lot.
side impact crash
This year, AAA Texas reported an 11.6% increase in accidents caused by side collisions while changing lanes and through intersections. Many of these crashes are related to distracted driving. Here are some things to consider when changing lanes or approaching an intersection:
- As you approach an intersection, be prepared to stop when the light turns yellow. Collisions often occur at intersections where two people drive aggressively to ignore traffic lights or make a sharp left turn.
- When attempting a left turn, do not assume that the oncoming vehicle knows you are there or can slow down to avoid a collision.
- If you are aware of a particularly dangerous intersection, we recommend avoiding it collectively. By taking a little detour, you may reduce your chances of losing money and reduce your stress!
- Vehicles reflected in the mirrors may be closer than they appear. Be sure to consider not only the distance, but also the speed of the vehicle in the lane you are trying to occupy.
speeding
If more drivers followed the speed limit, many crashes in Texas could be prevented. Last year, 935 people died and 2,593 were seriously injured on Texas roads due to speed, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. A study by the AAA Foundation for Road Safety found that even modest crash speeds not only dramatically increase the chances of serious injury or death, but also offset the benefits of vehicle safety features (such as airbags). I understand.