9 Proactive Driving Tips from a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles

Did you know that about 3 million people are injured in car accidents each year in the USA?

Icy roads, driving under the influence, driving while tired, there are many causes of road accidents. If you want to act now to prevent the pain of physical injury and avoid litigation, what can you do?

Why not take a minute to listen to suggestions from a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles? This shared experience can help you to avoid injuries and more.

1. Get Experience in Different Weather Conditions

When you pass your test you are ready to drive your car in the conditions and location that you learned to drive. This is fine for everyday driving. However, it will be sometime before you are capable and experienced enough to drive in different weather conditions.

To gain this experience, why not try driving in very safe areas during different weather conditions. You could find an empty lot and drive in the snow there. You could do the same to practice driving in icy weather.

Any car accident attorney will tell you that most accidents happen when drivers are overconfident in conditions that are not used to. Why not proactively try to get experience in safe conditions.

2. Do Not Use a Phone When Driving

This is one of the most well-known, yet most violated, rules of the road. While you might think that it is a problem for you, multitasking while driving is dangerous. Distracted driving is the cause of a high number of accidents each year.

If you need to answer a message or phone call , you should pull your car over to the side of the road or even better a car park off the road itself0.

3. Give Way

Every driver thinks that their journey is the most important. This means that at a junction where each driver has an equal right of way, there is the chance that each driver will pull out into the road.

To avoid an accident, remember this. If you stay in your lane and wait for the others to move, you cannot have an accident. You may need to exercise patience for a few more seconds, however, allowing other drivers the opportunity to make their move.

4. Learn the Meaning of Every Road Sign and Obey it

A number of accidents each year are caused by drivers who are unaware of the true meaning of a road sign or who pay no attention to it. Not obeying road signs for any reason is the simplest way to get yourself a ticket or worse.

If you are unsure of the meaning of any road signs, ıt ıs tıme to get a guidebook that explains their meanings. This will cut out any mistakes immediately. In addition to this, check your local routes to ensure that you are complying with all roadsigns.

5. Leave a Safe Distance

Noone likes a driver that is too slow and holds up the traffic behind it. Yet this is no excuse to pull right up to its fender to make a statement. It is always a good idea to leave a safe distance behind the vehicle in front in case of sudden braking.

A simple guide as to how to do this is the two-car length rule. If you have two car lengths in front of you then you can be sure that you have the time to maneuver should the car make an unexpected movement.

Remember that in rainy weather you should double this distance. If there is snow or ice on the ground, it would be good to leave an even greater distance.

6. Expect the Unexpected

As you drive along a country road, you likely know your driving style well. you know your speed, the route you will take, and your cornering style. You cannot predict how other drivers will behave. Factoring this into your driving style will help you to avoid overconfidence.

7. Avoid Bad Drivers

When you see a car weaving in and out of lanes, driving too fast, or tailgating other cars, how do you react?

Some drivers will follow the car, feeling that they can make progress through the traffic. Others will allow the car to get dangerously close to them. They feel that they don’t want to pushed around on the road. And anyway, if an accident happens it is the other car’s fault.

Remember, the goal of every driver should be zero accidents, not zero at-fault accidents. If you see a car acting strangely, keep far away and apply the following point.

8. Keep a Cool Head

Some people are highly aggressive drivers that seem to have a grudge against every other driver. If a car pulls up too close behind you, honks unnecessarily, or even take the time to verbally abuse you, don’t react.

Keeping a cool head not only prevents a fight, but it is also a form of distracted driving that can have sad consequences. Letting the other driver speed away or take your right of way may seem like a defeat in the short term. However, it will pay in the long term.

9. Avoid Sudden Movements

Just as you cannot legislate for other driver’s behavior, remember that they will not be expecting sudden moves from your vehicle. Ensure that you do not brake suddenly or make unexpected movements.

If you see that you will likely need to slow your vehicle soon, tap the brake as early as possible to alert other drivers to the situation. This will likely encourage them to increase their distance.

Tips from a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles and Much More

If you have been involved in a traffic accident or would like to preemptively avoid one in the future, these tips can help you. Learning from a car accident lawyer in Los Angeles can help you to avoid the pain of physical injury and financial litigation.

If you are interested in topics like these, why not take a look at our blog articles? We publish articles each week that we know will benefit you and your business.