How Much Do You Worry About Getting Into An Accident?

Kinja'd!!! "Burrito de EJ25" (alexcarrillo01)
09/23/2013 at 04:10 • Filed to: None

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The recent news that vehicle insurance fraud is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! has definitely made me worry some, certainly to the point of researching dashcams.

The paranoia has made me a more attentive driver, however. I'm more cognizant of other drivers, their behaviors, and generally making sure I'm far enough away, even if someone jumps in front, that I can stop in time.

People are scumbags.

Statistically speaking, however, the likelihood of being in an accident is pretty high up there, even if someone isn't out to get you.

So, how about you guys? Is it something you think about, or is it just what it is?


DISCUSSION (4)


Kinja'd!!! MitsubiShe > Burrito de EJ25
09/23/2013 at 05:34

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I work in insurance claims for autos, so I think about it often. A majority of minor accidents can be avoided, things like backing in parking lots or single vehicle collisions, but major accidents can be unpredictable and impossible to avoid. Most of the fraud I've seen is single vehicle or pretty minor stuff, though.

I had a close call tonight on my way home that terrified me. I was going about 65 on a stretch of dark highway when someone in a black Nissan pulled out off the shoulder (he was parked so I couldn't see his taillights, and didn't have lights on) right in front of me. Either he was under the influence/not paying any attention at all (likely), or he was doing it on purpose. It was pretty scary. That probably would have totaled my car, not to mention how likely serious injuries are at that speed.


Kinja'd!!! TheOnelectronic > Burrito de EJ25
09/23/2013 at 05:53

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As a motorcycle rider, I've developed a fairly keen eye for analyzing other drivers' behaviors to predict their actions. Someone pulls in front of an SUV, forcing the SUV to slow down? That SUV is likely going to change lanes very soon without really looking.

There are more subtle things, too. People drift a bit when they check their mirrors, so if I see someone drifting slowly one way or the other, I prepare myself for a lane change. If I'm close enough to see the driver themselves, there are a lot of body language cues.

I also tend to ride a bit faster than traffic while on my bike. Helps to ensure that the majority of threats are in front of me, where I have a much better awareness.


Kinja'd!!! deekster_caddy > Burrito de EJ25
09/23/2013 at 07:47

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I do think about it, and I'm considering a dashcam more and more. I'm more worried that I'm going to get squished like a bug when I'm driving my MG and have basically no protection and would be skewered... so I do tend to be a more defensive driver, especially in that. No radio means all attention is on everyone else.

My regular commute is an 11 mile stretch of the slowest highway around, so I'm not too worried about a major incident, and insurance fraud hits don't seem that big around here.

My wife was tapped a few years ago backing out of a parking space in a very crowded city lot. She was backing up, checking around, when (according to her) this car comes out of nowhere and she backs into their rear passenger door. A minor dent in the door, no visible damage to our car. We are automatically at fault for being in reverse... Later, we find out the insurance company is investigating due to 4 major medical claims from all 4 passengers (whiplash etc). We are like WTF? No way there could have been injuries, it was a light tap and we were in a parking lot, so they shouldn't have been going that fast anyway!

I'm pretty sure they didn't get squat, but the ins co. wouldn't tell us the outcome.


Kinja'd!!! TrekHuis > deekster_caddy
09/23/2013 at 09:51

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Jep I'm also thinking about buying a dashcam, maybe some crowdsourcing on Oppo for a type of dashcam ?