By Pendergast Law on September 3, 2010
Make Safety Your Driving Companion – Seattle Car Accident Lawyer Encourages Safe Driving
If you are headed out on the highways this summer to take advantage of the warm weather and school breaks, please take a few minutes before you go to make safety your driving companion. Unfortunately, summer getaways or visits with family and friends can easily turn tragic as the result of poor safety decisions behind the wheel and not keeping your vehicle properly maintained.
Here are some summer driving tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
1. Avoid distractions. Remember talking or texting is now a primary offence in Washington State, so stash the cell phones when you get behind the wheel. And be aware of other distractions, like eating, drinking and those handy in-vehicle technologies. Better to pull off the road to make that call or use your GPS.
2. Check your tire inflation. Hot weather combined with underinflated tires or worn out tread are a recipe for disaster, especially when your car is loaded with family members and luggage.
3. Keep children safe. Never leave children unattended in or near a vehicle. This is especially true in hot weather when the temperatures inside a car can rapidly climb to deadly levels. You should also make sure you know where your children are when moving a vehicle – particularly when you are backing up.
4. Always buckle up. Day and night remember that law enforcement will be ticketing for seat belt violations and that it is your car’s most important safety device. Children aged 12 and under should be secured in age-appropriate child restraints in the back seat where they are safest.
Have a great summer vacation and if you or a loved one is ever involved in a serious accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be able to file a personal injury claim and get compensation for your injuries. If you think you have a claim contact our Seattle personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.