With the holidays fast approaching, your chances of being involved in a car crash due to a drunk driver are greatly increased. People are attending parties and consuming more alcohol than usual and you may be more distracted while taking care of shopping lists and planning for family gatherings. All of this puts you at greater risk of becoming the victim of an intoxicated driver.
There are ways to limit your chances of becoming involved in a car accident this holiday season.
Avoid driving late at night
Avoid being on the roads late at night, especially just after a bar’s closing. The chances of being involved in a car accident increase significantly late at night.
The less time you spend driving after 10 p.m., the safer you will be from becoming the victim of a drunk driver.
Stay in the right lane
Wrong way drivers are the cause of a large proportion of car crash-related injuries and death. If you stay in the right lane, or as far to the right as you can safely drive, you reduce the risk of being hit by a driver that has either swerved into oncoming traffic or entered the highway going the wrong way.
Staying to the right of your lane will also decrease your chances of being sideswiped by a vehicle coming from behind.
Maintain maximum control of your vehicle
In order to maintain maximum control of your vehicle, your car must be functioning at an acceptable level. This means that your brakes should be working and your tires in good condition.
These two things are important in case you find yourself in a situation where you have to suddenly slam on your brakes or swerve to avoid an accident.
Report other drivers
If you see another car that is driving erratically, you should immediately report it to the police. Doing this will not only benefit you, but possibly save the life of another innocent driver as well as the one that may be intoxicated.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by an intoxicated driver on the streets of California, it is important to know your options in this state. For advice concerning filing a claim against another driver, contact an experienced, local personal injury attorney.