Reduce your chances of a car collision by avoiding these actions
On Behalf of The Law Offices of Goldfine & Bowles, P.C.
January 2, 2019
Illinois motorists commit grave errors every day on the road. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases, making a serious mistake doesn’t result in a crash. However, when you commit errors and do dangerous things on the road again and again, eventually it could result in a catastrophic or fatal incident.
To help you stay safe and prevent injuries to you, your family and other people on the road, here’s an important “Do Not Do” list:
Don’t drink and drive. This refers to all alcohol. Don’t even drink a sip and get behind the wheel. Establishing a firm rule like this will prevent you from ever driving your car while intoxicated by alcohol and it will reduce your chances of getting hurt.
Don’t assume anything. Other motorists are supposed to drive responsibly and follow the rules of the road, but do you think they ever will? Most will, but many will not. It’s best to not assume anything and be ready for everything while navigating traffic.
Don’t tailgate. This should be common sense, but impatience and being late for an event can cause you to get pushy on the road. However, failing to maintain a safe following distance is a recipe for disaster.
Keep the volume down. Your ears are important tools for accident avoidance. Keeping the volume down on your vehicle will help you prevent crashes.
Don’t use your smartphone. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking or texting, keep the cellphone out of arm’s reach. Even picking it up for a split second can take your eyes away from the road at a vital moment. You’re better off not using it at all. Plus, it’s illegal to text and drive.
Don’t break any traffic laws. This final piece of advice is probably the best thing you can do. Lawmakers create traffic rules for a reason: because they will prevent you from getting into most accidents. If all drivers simply refrained from breaking the rules of the road, most crashes would be avoided.
There are many more tips and tricks to staying safe as a driver. If, in spite of your most valiant efforts to be responsible, you were still hurt in a crash caused by a negligent motorist, learn more about your legal rights and options. You may have a viable cause of action that allows you to pursue financial compensation in court.