Common Sense Driving Tips

Last summer the roads were empty, people were afraid to travel. Accidents were non-existent. Courtrooms were closed and lawsuits were put on hold. In my 30 plus years of being a lawyer I can definitely say it was a weird time indeed.

Unfortunately, that weirdness didn’t last long and it seems the roads are now busier than ever with people driving their cars, trucks, and motorcycles everywhere. The problem that arises now is that drivers are not paying attention to their surroundings as they should, resulting in an increase in accidents.

A recent NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) study found that those seriously injured or who were victims of fatal crashes, either were, or encountered drivers of cars who had taken risks such as speeding, driving while impaired or not wearing seatbelts. Some had even consumed alcohol or taken cannabinoids and even opioids to help cope with the effects of the pandemic.

It was also reported that drivers who caused these auto related accidents were traveling at speeds 15% higher than before the pandemic began. These excessive speeds have resulted in a spike in accidents involving cyclists. In the US alone fatalities caused by negligent drivers have increased 30% post Covid.

To help you and someone you love be a better, more conscientious driver we offer these common sense tips:

Tidy Up Your Sloppy Habits – come to a full stop, signal at every turn, don’t cut corners – make the full turn.
Adjust Your Mirrors – all of them. And actually use them. Get a sense of what’s around you. Glance at the mirrors often.
Keep Your Eyes Moving – avoid fixation, check your mirrors every 5 seconds, scan other vehicles. Know your surroundings.
Leave More Space – remember the 4 second rule. Keeping a 4 second space between you and another vehicle allows for better judgement. (Most drivers only leave less than 1 second of space which doesn’t allow enough time to overcome obstacles).
Take Time To Understand Your Car’s Safety Features – every car is different, so understanding the limitations of your car will go a long way in saving you or a loved one in an accident. Oh and by the way…ABS brakes will not shorten the distance if you are too close to another vehicle and need to brake suddenly. Paying attention is key.
Don’t Text And Drive – put the phone down, answering a text is not worth your life or someone else’s.
Don’t Be Influenced – driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or even over the counter medications can lead to bad driving decisions and death. Just don’t do it.

So why do we share these tips with you?

We share them to hopefully help you prevent a vehicle accident. Being sued for negligent driving is not a pleasant experience. Because our job as personal injury lawyers is to fight for the victim’s rights and if you’re deemed negligent we don’t go easy on you. We go after you, we go after your insurance, we make sure the victim is fully compensated for your mistakes. So follow the tips and learn to be a safer driver.

The Law Offices of David W. Holub, P.C., strive to represent each client aggressively and to obtain prompt and favorable results. We not only aggressively pursue our client’s best interests, but we remain accessible and attentive to our client’s needs.

The firm concentrates in personal injury cases of all types, medical malpractice, and wrongful death litigation. We work tirelessly to serve each client aggressively and with empathy, to communicate regularly and clearly, and to obtain prompt and favorable results, while adhering to the highest standards of excellence and integrity. Our team considers it a high honor to be called upon to serve our clients whom we often come to regard as our friends.

If you’ve been injured and are looking for answers we invite you to make use of the information on our website, and to call our law office at (219) 736-9700 to schedule a time to talk directly to us and see firsthand if we are the right law firm for you.

If you would like to learn more about personal injury law, we encourage you to listen to our Personal Injury Primer Podcast where we break down the law into simple terms, provide legal tips, and discuss topics related to personal injury law. And read “Fighting For Truth: A Trial Lawyer’s Insight Into What It Takes To Win” an entertaining and enlightening book pulling readers into the courtroom giving them a glimpse of the legal process and what it takes to win at trial.