Chicago Car Accident Law Firm > Safe Driving Tips

Chicago car accident law firms make their living sorting out the red-tape aftermath of a car accident. However, our lawyers would much rather prefer to never see you or someone you love involved in a car accident. Please take the time to read these helpful driving safety tips to assist you the next time you hit the road. There are numerous things you can do to lower your risk of being in a car accident without incurring the wrath of your fellow drivers. By adopting some of these safe driving tips, you can help protect yourself, your passengers, and ensure you'll never again need to contact a Chicago car accident law firm.

Safe Driving Techniques

• Allow plenty of room in front, beside, and behind your vehicle.
• Don’t forget your blind spots include the point where your peripheral vision ends to about three car lengths behind your car.
• Set your mirrors to minimize your blind spots.
• Avoid other people’s blind spots.
• Use your turn signal and check for other cars at least twice before you change lanes.
• When you pass a vehicle, signal well ahead of time, do so quickly, and do not return to the other lane too soon.
• Maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you. The two second rule is good to use to determine if you are too close. Choose an object on the side of the road. If you reach the object before you’ve counted “one thousand one, one thousand two,” you are too close. Poor weather conditions should increase your count from two seconds to three or four seconds.

Another safe driving technique involves handling the steering wheel properly. To improve your chances of surviving a car accident, your airbag must be functional and able to be fully deployed. Your hands can prevent this from happening if they are in the wrong position. A lot of people have been told to keep their hands in the “10 and 2 o’clock” position, but this needs a little adjustment. Rather than 10 and 2, drivers should put their hands at 9 and 3 to avoid contact with the airbag if it has to be deployed.

Sitting in the proper position is also important for safe driving. A driver should do all seat adjustments before driving. For proper position, take the following hints into consideration:

• Your leg should be fully stretched out with all of your weight on the break pedal.
• If you have a manual transmission, adjust the parking break so you push the clutch all the way to the floor.
• If possible, adjust your seat up and down so you can see all of your gauges.
• Move the backrest so your shoulders are in full contact with it when your arms are fully extended and holding the steering wheel.
  

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or death as a result of car accident, call the experienced Chicago car accident law firm of VanDerGinst Law. P.C. by calling (866) 843-7367 or submit a free online case evaluation. The initial consultation is free of charge.  If we agree to handle your injury case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we are paid for our services only if, and when, there is a money recovery for you. In many cases a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date known as a statute of limitations.  Please call our office right away to ensure you do not waive your right to possible compensation by consulting our Chicago car accident law firm.