Car accidents are an unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable part of modern life. They’re something you’ve likely heard incessantly about since the day you were born. More or less everybody knows somebody who’s died in a car accident and many people have been involved in them themselves.

If you regularly use a car, you need to make sure that you do everything you can to avoid getting involved in collisions with other drivers. This post’s guidance aims to help you do that by telling you about six scenarios that increase your chances of being involved in an accident.

Drunk Driving

As more or less everybody knows, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of road traffic fatalities in the world.  Fortunately, those involved in accidents with intoxicated drivers have legal protections, as drunk driving is a criminal offense. If you are in a crash and a drunk driver causes the accident, you will be eligible for compensation and can file a criminal complaint against the responsible driver. If you do plan on claiming compensation, make sure that you hire a lawyer with lots of experience. Your lawyer’s level of experience will have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. The more experienced a lawyer is, the better they will be at dealing with claims and cases of your kind. You can find out how experienced a lawyer is by reading their reviews. Make sure to only ever read independent ones.

Exceeding Speed Limit

Another scenario that’s a common cause of car accidents is exceeding the speed limit. Speeding can be very dangerous because drivers tend to lose control of their vehicles. When you’re speeding it can be very difficult to control your car. Unless you are a race car driver or have significant experience driving at high speeds, exceeding the speed limit is a very bad idea, not least because if you are caught doing it, you could end up being arrested. People regularly lose their driving licenses for exceeding speed limits. You could even be sent to jail if it’s something you’re caught doing more than once.

Driving While Tired

Driving when you’re tired can be a very bad idea. It’s common for individuals who fall asleep at the wheel to hurt themselves and others. If you feel like you are tired when you are driving, find a rest stop. Rest stops can be found up and down our nation’s highways. If you cannot find a rest stop, then stop at a motel or hotel. It is worth noting that while driving tired is not a crime, you can get into trouble if the police catch you falling asleep behind the wheel.

Not Servicing Car

If your car hasn’t been serviced, then it might not be working properly. If your car’s not working properly, you could end up having an accident. As the car owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that your car is roadworthy. You can do this by taking it to a mechanic and having them inspect it periodically. Car inspections do not cost a lot. In some parts of the world, car inspections are a legal requirement. If you do not get your car inspected and it is a legal requirement in the place where you live, you could end up getting yourself into a lot of trouble.

Driving Without License

Driving without a license isn’t necessarily something that will get you into an accident. However, a disproportionately large number of drivers without licenses do get themselves into accidents. This is mainly because of inexperience. Under no circumstances should you ever get behind the wheel of a car without a driver’s license or without taking your test. The reasons for this are because you get into trouble with the police and could have an accident. If you do have an accident, you will likely have no legal protection, nor will you be insured.

Showing Off

Finally, it is very common for young people who are new to driving to show off. New drivers who show off are more likely to be involved in accidents than experienced drivers having a little bit of fun behind the wheel. If you want to play around in a car, go to a racetrack. Racetracks are open to the public and have days where people can turn up and drive their own vehicles on the track. Usually, racetracks are very affordable and do not charge much for tickets.

Car accidents can happen unexpectedly. If you’ve been involved in one, you need to make sure that you get in touch with a lawyer. A lawyer will be able to give you the care and guidance that you need and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.