Now that the holiday season is here, many of us will be traveling. And with decreasing fuel prices and increasing frustration with air travel, a large number of those traveling will be traveling by car. Unfortunately, with car travel comes the possibility of car accidents. The costs of these accidents, both financial and personal, can be extraordinary. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to try to avoid them this holiday season.

Tips to Prevent a Car Accident

The automotive journalists at Edmunds have created a list of tips to minimize your risk of being involved in a car crash. Some of these tips include:

Avoid the “fast lane.” Usually the “fast lane” is the far left lane. If you are in that lane, and something unexpected happens, you have fewer escape routes meaning you are more likely to be in a serious accident.
Adjust your seat. You will have better control over the steering wheel if you move your seat close enough to it so that your wrist can rest on top of the wheel while your back is still against the seat.
Judge other drivers by the condition of their car. If you notice that a car near you is swerving or has a lot of damage on it, there is probably a reason for that. Avoid driving near that sort of vehicle.
Avoid night driving. While traffic can be lessened at night, there are a lot of risks associated with night driving including your own fatigue, drunk drivers, and difficult to see animals in the road.
Scan the area ahead with your eyes. Many of us focus on the car in front of us, especially when driving for long periods of time. However, if you scan the area further in front of you, you will be more aware of your surroundings and better able to react in an emergency.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Tips

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also provided some tips this year on how to stay safe when driving at the holidays. The three main areas NHTSA recommends that you focus on are:

Buckle Up, Drive Sober, and Pay Attention: These may seem like obvious steps, but unfortunately they are not followed all the time. Being buckled up reduces your risk of injury or death if you are in an accident, and being alert, sober, and aware is vital to preventing accidents in the first place. This includes avoiding texting while driving.

Check your Vehicles and Tires: While mechanical issues can pop up any time of year, they become more likely and more harmful in cold weather. You should pay particular attention to this if you will be traveling to a colder or icier climate than where you usually live and drive.

Plan ahead: Check the road conditions and have a route and a backup plan in mind. Be sure to take a well-stocked emergency kit in case there is an accident of some sort and you find yourself stranded in the cold.

If an Accident Does Happen, Call Naqvi Injury Law

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, you still find yourself involved in a car accident because of someone else’s negligence. If this happens to you in the Las Vegas area, call Naqvi Injury Law. Our experienced car accident attorneys can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us now at (702)553-1000 to schedule a free consultation.