Los Angeles is finally getting some needed RAIN!
Unfortunately that means the potential for car accidents is really high. Here are some driving safety tips from Weather.com :
Skidding and Hydroplaning in Rainy Conditions
Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience.
Skids are scary but hydroplaning is completely nerve-wracking.
Hydroplaning happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes your car to rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between your tires.
Taking these simple tips into account can save your life.
- You can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Steer and brake with a light touch. When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid. Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.
- If you do find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. You must be prepared to turn the steering wheel again and again until the front of the vehicle is traveling in a straight line. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you steer into the skid.
- Avoid hydroplaning by keeping your tires inflated correctly. Maintain good tire tread. Don't put off replacing worn tires. Slow down when roads are wet, and stay away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you.
- If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions. If your car has anti-lock brakes, then brake normally. The car's computer will automatically pump the brakes much more effectively than a person can do.
- A defensive driver adjusts his or her speed to the wet road conditions in time to avoid having to use any of these measures.
Reprinted from the National Safety Council
In case you are involved in a car accident, call our office with any questions you may have.
Car accident symptoms of back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, dizziness, numbness or tingling going down your arms or legs, sore muscles, or fatigue can have long lasting effects on your health and well-being!
Call our Los Angeles Chiropractic office immediately after a car accident for an examination!
Here are FIVE very important reasons WHY!
During a car accident, a driver or a passenger undergoes a whiplash. This causes the head or back muscles to be suddenly over-stretched beyond their normal physiological range. It can result in micro-tearing of the muscle fibers causing pain in the affected region, be it neck, lower back, shoulder, middle back, or hips. If this tearing does not heal properly, scar tissue can build and cause the affected muscles to shorten in length. Every day this process increases and eventually can lead to arthritic changes and possible disc degeneration as well as neurological impairments.
After a car accident, if you suffered injuries, your body needs rest. Our chiropractic doctor will take a history of your health prior to the auto accident to determine if your present injuries were caused by the accident. If our doctor determines that your symptoms will be adversely affected by your work duties, he may suggest you take time off your work to concentrate on the proper healing of your injuries. Only a doctor can determine this factor.
At Kirossage® Chiropractic Center, our doctors use a unique combination treatment that is only available in our office. The Doctor combines massage techniques that are very successful in correcting muscles spasm with the chiropractic care at the same time. This ensures that the chiropractic adjustments will be more efficient in giving pain relief of the back and neck, as well as longer lasting effects.
Many times, after an accident, the patient may not feel any pain. This is due to the adrenaline effect. Unfortunately, if there is damage that is not corrected, the patient may suffer from severe pain in the future that can become chronic and may progress into arthritis, disc damage, neurological symptoms, chronic neck or back pain, shoulder pain, or chronic headaches. Only a properly trained doctor can detect these asymptomatic injuries that need to be corrected as soon as possible after a car accident.
A car accident whiplash can cause the patient to hit their head on the headrest, or steering wheel. This can cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, fatigue, loss of memory, blurred vision, temporary loss of consciousness, severe migraine like headaches, vertigo like symptoms, and even loss of appetite and depression. A doctor of chiropractic is trained to determine if any of these symptoms need to be evaluated further, and can refer you to the appropriate specialist for further evaluation, if needed.
Don't delay. Call us today for an immediate Car Accident Evaluation at (310) 234-9162.
We are here to HELP!