Regardless of the type of roadway, operating a motor vehicle obviously comes with a certain level of risk. Even when you feel your safest, another driver could make a mistake that causes an accident.
When it comes to highway driving, danger is everywhere. Here are five examples:
- Excessive speeding: Many people use the highway as their own personal racetrack. Some do it for fun. Others do it because they’re running late. Either way, it’s a safety risk.
- Distracted driving: It sounds easy enough to cruise on the highway without incident. However, if a driver becomes distracted, such as by sending a text message, reaching for their mascara wand that fell between their lap as they hastily tried to apply it, or just daydreaming about any number of things, it greatly increases the risk of an accident.
- Drowsy driving: This is common among commercial truckers who are traveling a far distance. They don’t always get the rest they need to be alert. So, drowsiness sets in, which increases the risk of causing an accident.
- Construction zones: Travel far enough on the interstate and you’re sure to drive into a construction zone. These are dangerous for many reasons, ranging from the close proximity of workers to the narrowing of travel lanes.
- Inclement weather: For example, if rain begins to fall and the wind picks up, you’re at a disadvantage when driving at a high rate of speed. You could strike a puddle, which causes you to hydroplane and lose control of your vehicle. Or a wind gust could knock a commercial truck off its path, thus causing it to collide with your vehicle. Protect against this by keeping an eye on the sky, slowing down and even pulling over if you’re not comfortable driving in the conditions.
While these are among the most common dangers of highway driving, there are many other causes of accidents.
If you’re injured in a highway motor vehicle accident, do your best to move your vehicle out of traffic. You can then assess yourself and your passengers for injuries and call 911 to request an ambulance.
Once you receive medical treatment and discuss your prognosis with your doctor, you’ll have a better idea of the impact of the injuries on your life. This will help you formulate a plan for protecting your legal rights by holding the negligent driver responsible.
