Safe Holiday Driving Tips

The holiday season is fun and exciting, but failure to take certain precautions can turn a fun holiday excursion into a real nightmare. The personal injury attorneys at Sachs Waldman want you to stay safe and keep your holidays merry. Therefore, we've provided the following holiday driving tips to help you do so.

Safe Holiday Driving Tips

1. Always wear a seatbelt and make sure passengers are seatbelted and that children are properly restrained in child safety seats.

2. Designate a sober driver ahead of time if going to a party or get-together where there will be alcohol

3. Get your vehicle tuned up before travelling  - in particular make sure that bakes and other safety features are working correctly.

4. Fill your gas tank and fill up again before it gets critical if travelling out of town -- gas stations or exits  may be closed unexpectedly because of weather and can lead to running out of gas

5. Stay flexible in your travel plans -- rescheduling your trip around traffic and weather conditions can mean the difference between arriving safely at your destination or not getting there at all.

6. Take steps to stay alert while driving -- stop to get coffee, stretch, nap or whatever else you need to refresh and stay awake while driving

7. Slow down for bad weather or traffic conditions -- speed limits are for good weather and good traffic conditions, when those conditions worsen you need to drive slower than the speed limit to avoid sliding or losing control of your vehicle

8. Let aggressive and impatient drivers pass you or go through an intersection first -- staying in control of your circumstances gives you a better chance of staying in control of your vehicle

9. Pull off the road to use your cell phone -- even if you have a hands-free device on your phone; texting and cell phone conversations are distractions that are as dangerous and deadly as drunk driving

10. Don't pass another vehicle if you can't see clearly ahead -- many fatal accidents occur when someone attempts to pass during weather conditions that hamper visibility

Tips for Holiday Shopping Safety

People tend to get careless during hectic holiday shopping, making them vulnerable to accidents and criminal activity. When doing your holiday shopping, keep the following in mind to avoid accidents and avoid becoming a victim of theft or other crimes.

1. Don't go alone -- having someone with you greatly reduces your vulnerability to attacks, thefts and other personal crimes

2. Don't go at night if avoidable -- more accidents and crimes happen at night when it's more difficult to see

3. Keep windows rolled up and doors locked at all times -- even if you're in the car; some criminals are not above yanking car doors open when they're stopped at intersections or when they park

4. Don't park next to vehicles with suspicious occupants or in which you may not be able to see the occupants, like vans, trucks with camper tops or cars with tinted windows

5. Park as close to the store entrance as possible

6. Take a moment before leaving your vehicle to note where you parked -- write down the row and parking section if they are marked (markers often appear at the top of light poles) -- and any suspicious behavior in the vicinity

7. Always have your keys ready and think about where you're parked before leaving the store or mall -- this minimizes opportunities for attackers

8. Don't carry purchases in a way that blocks your vision, like carrying boxes in your arms in front of you -- ask for more bags, assistance or a cart if necessary

9. If leaving a store after dark or any time you see suspicious activity around your parked vehicle, ask store or mall personnel to escort you to your car

10. Always be aware of your surroundings in parking lots, stores and malls and keep a tight grip on your purse and purchases

11. Don't leave your car with packages or valuables in easy sight -- put them in the trunk or under seats where they won't tempt criminals

When Others' Carelessness or Criminal Actions Cause Accidents or Injuries

Sometimes a person can be following all the safety tips possible and still end up the victim of an auto accident or criminal action that results in injuries. If this happens to you in Michigan, you can get help recovering compensation for the damages you suffer from the personal injury attorneys at Sachs Waldman.

Call our Detroit personal injury law office at 1-800-638-6722 to schedule a free consultation and find out what damages you may be entitled to.