Avoid Car Accidents This Summer With These Tips
Summertime is just around the corner! This means fun in the sun, long road trips and vacations with family. It’s also, unfortunately, a prime time for accidents and injuries that can result in pain and suffering, loss and personal injury claims. In the end, if you practice defensive driving and are always prepared for the unexpected, you can prevent and avoid many of the situations that can lead to a car accident. Learn these ways that you can stay safe on the roads and avoid car accidents as you prepare for your next big summertime vacation or family trip.
Pre-Trip Preparation
Avoiding accidents and injury begins with preparation before you even leave on your trip. Make sure that your car is in good condition and properly maintained. Take it into the shop even if you’ve just had an inspection. Get your oil changed, and make sure you don’t need a tune up. Check the battery and tires. Keeping your car in good shape is the single best thing you can do to prevent complications on your trip.
Always Practice Good Children’s Safety
If you’re taking the kids with you on vacation, make sure that you take every possible precaution for maintaining their safety. If they’re small enough to require car seats, be sure that these are installed correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that the kids are actually secured in the car seats. If kids are old and large enough to ride in the car without a safety seat, make sure they are buckled up securely. In fact, all passengers should be buckled up even if you’re just running down the street to the grocery store!
Keep Alert and Awake
Making long drives can be tiring in ways you don’t even realize. The passing trees in your peripheral, the lines on the road, the monotony and drone of the tires — all of these can actually lull you to sleep, even if you’re not feeling tired. Don’t look for distractions. Keep your attention focused on the road. Have other people talk to you to keep you alert. Turn up the music. Roll the window down. Never, however, use a cellphone. Studies show that talking on a cell phone while driving creates nearly as much of a lapse in judgment and reaction as being intoxicated!
Defensive Driving
Practice defensive driving at all times. Always assume that another driver is going to make a bad choice and give yourself the time and space to respond if and when they do. This means leaving plenty of room to stop and looking ahead for obstacles and dangers on the road.
These are just a few of the things you can do to avoid a car accident. Sometimes, however, you can’t help it. If someone else does something wrong and causes an accident that hurts you or someone you love, call an attorney to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Check out our car accident legal services, and contact our attorneys for a review of your case today!
