Tips for New Drivers to Avoid Car Accidents

 Posted on April 25, 2024 in Car Accidents

It is hard to master the skill of driving. It requires a lot of practice before you can get your license, and even after you need to be constantly paying attention to many different things. While car accidents can happen to anyone, new drivers are especially prone. If you or your child are a new driver, feel free to use this list to help you know what to avoid. However, if you are a new driver and someone else crashes into you on the road, be sure to speak with a knowledgeable Glenview, IL personal injury attorney who can help protect your rights.

Common Driving Mistakes

Getting your driver’s license is an exciting right of passage. You are finally growing up and legally recognized as such. However, even if you have passed your exam and have answered all the questions sufficiently, certain things come with time and experience. If you are a new driver, keep the following list in mind and try to avoid making some common mistakes that could end in a car accident.

• Speeding: A very common mistake among new and veteran drivers alike is driving too fast. You may not fully understand this until you have experienced it yourself, but when you drive too fast, it means that if something suddenly happens - a car has suddenly broken down ahead or an animal has run into the street - the amount of reaction time available to you is much less than would otherwise be. You will need to slam on the brakes rather than gradually slow down, and it might mean that the car behind you crashes into you or that you have not braked in time and you still hit whatever obstacle you have seen.
• Distraction: Whether you are changing the radio station, reading a text, or trying to open a water bottle, every second counts when you are driving. You need to focus all your attention on the road, the signs, and the cars and pedestrians around you. If you let your eyes wander elsewhere, the results could be catastrophic.
• Ignoring your intuition: Seasoned drivers can often tell when a car ahead is about to switch lanes even if the car has not indicated with its signal. They can also usually tell when a car driving erratically is simply a show-off or experiencing car trouble. When you are driving, there might be countless times that something sets the alarms off in your head. With time, you will learn to trust these instincts and drive accordingly to avoid hard-to-spot road obstacles.

Contact a Northbrook, IL Car Accident Lawyer

If you are a new driver and a car crashes into you, speak with an experienced Cook County, IL personal injury attorney. At Gruzmark Law, Ltd., we treat all our clients with respect and we will not let anyone take advantage of you just because you have been driving for less years. Call 847-729-7660 to schedule a free consultation.