As you become a more experienced driver, you may become more and more aware of the many dangers on the road. When you were younger, you may not have given too much thought to driving over the speed limit, tailgating slow drivers or weaving in and out of traffic. Now, you know that those behaviors are reckless and want to avoid putting yourself and others at unnecessary risk.
In addition to keeping yourself from driving recklessly, you also want to make sure that you know how to handle dangerous conditions that may present themselves while you travel. Having this desire is the sign of a defensive driver and could help you stay safe.
Common road and travel hazards
As you commute to work, head to the grocery store or take a road trip with friends, you will likely come across many hazards. Unfortunately, too many drivers do not know how to safely handle certain dangerous conditions or may simply not consider them as dangerous as they really are. For instance, some drivers may simply consider heavy traffic an inconvenience, but really, stop and go traffic can easily cause an accident as drivers fail to pay attention, change lanes in attempts to get moving or tailgate.
Road construction creates similar situations. Workers may have closed lanes, which can cause traffic to back up, and flaggers may direct traffic, which can be confusing. Again, any driver not slowing down or not paying attention could quickly cause an accident. Other reasons to slow down on the road include the following:
- Bad weather
- Difficult roads, such as those with hills, sharp curves, uneven surfaces or busy intersections
- Accidents on the road
Of course, numerous other conditions could present reasons to slow down and pay extra attention to your surroundings.
Accidents will happen
Unfortunately, some accidents are just unavoidable. Try as you might to remain defensive and conscientious, other drivers may succumb to distractions or simply think that their actions will not cause an accident until it is too late. If you find yourself in a car accident because another driver did not accommodate for dangerous roadway conditions, you may have reason to take legal action.
Suffering serious injuries in a crash can have lasting impacts, and you may benefit from filing a personal injury claim to seek compensation for the resulting damages. Discussing this option with an Illinois attorney may be in your interests.