The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-04-28
Motorist in Unpleasant Predica-
ment Because He Failed to
Take Precaution.
NOTE CIRCUMSTANCES FULLY
Important Point offered for Jury's
Consideration Is Whether Car Was
In Rightful PIace--insurance
Saves Worry.

To the owner of a new car who Is
just testing his wings, so to speak, on
the highway 1t may seem ghoulish TO
talk Of what to do in ease an accident
happens to his car or through 1t. But
we all know hat accidents involving
motorcars do happen, though in a ma
jority of cases the car owner is not TO
blame.
No matter how guiltless of wrong
the motorist may be unless he knows
what TO do at the time the accident
occurs. knows how to protect himself,
in other words, he may find himself in
an unpleasant predicament simply be-
cause he has failed to take certain pre-
cautions.
Note All Circumstances.
To begin with, the car owner should
try to keep his mind as calm as pos
sible and note all the attendant cir
cumstances OF the time of the acct
dent. He should get from any by
ISLANDERS their names and addresses
and also those of people in nearby
buildings, provided those persons wit
messed the accident.
If the motorist knows that the fault
has not lain with hiiN he should point
out to the people whose names he has
gathered particular phases of the &C
cident, measure any distances that may
be germane to the subject by pacing,
IL no other means Is at hand. BE GER
tain to get some confederation of the
rate of speed at which the car was
being driven. If the horn or other
warning signal was sounded be sure to
have witnesses ready to help prove this
fact.
In case the accident has occurred at
the intersection of two streets, 1t is
important to prove that the vehicle
had beer slowed down before coming
to the crossing.
Rightful Place Of Car.
One of the most important points Of
fered for a jury's consideration is
whether or not the car was In its right
full place In the street. Was 1t on the
right hand side of the thoroughfare,
where it belonged? Testimony to this
effect will help the defendant. If the
emergency brake was firmly set, I'M
prejudiced witnesses may be shown
this for later use In court.
When an accident happens at night
II is important 10 prove that the lights
we're properly burning and in order.
When the mishap occurs in rainy
weather or when the streets are slip
,,nr,, ft eln,,1l no ehnu,n 20 pnggfhla fhat
the nonskid chains were in place on
the tires.
In Ease the trouble came when the
car was making a turn, call attention
to the fact that it was making a wide
turn, in accordance with the statutes,
and was on the proper side of the
road.
If a person has been injured, try to
remember his conduct just before the
accident. Was he behaving In a way
TO make him guilty of negligence, as,
for instance, sheltering himself under
an umbrella, and not keeping a prop
er lookout? Were you, the operator,
looking ahead and tending to your
driving, or were you talking or other
wise permitting your attention to be
d~istracted2
If you can prove by measurement
that you brought your car to a halt
within the distance required for check
ing the progress of n car driven within
the legal speed limit you will have
scored n distinct point.