For some drivers, the car accident that they got into would’ve been essentially unavoidable no matter what they tried to do. There are some situations that can be avoided, however, and you can do a lot to make sure that you stay safe. If you can avoid having to contact an attorney because of having managed to avoid an accident altogether, so much the better for you!

Know Your Vehicle

Quite a few people assume that knowing how to drive in general means knowing how to drive every vehicle in particular. Every vehicle is a little bit different, however. If you have a sensible compact car, handling tight traffic, rapid acceleration and sudden braking will all be much different affairs than they would be if you were driving a large SUV. Make sure you take the time to actually get to know your vehicle. Learn where your blind spots are, which squeaks and rattles are normal for your vehicle and which ones are not and how your vehicle handles in different conditions so that you have the maximum possible control over your own car or truck.

Take a Class

Most people, if they have the choice, would never repeat driver’s education, if they could avoid it. However, there are some good classes out there that teach basic defensive driving skills that are good for advanced, experienced drivers to take. You may want to look into taking one of these classes. In addition to the safety benefits you get, you may receive a discount from your insurance company on the monthly rates that you pay. In some cases, they may offer advanced classes in addition to the basic classes available at these schools. Such a class is a particularly good idea if you happen to drive a motorcycle.

Maintain Your Vehicle

Find a good mechanic that you can trust and make sure you take their advice where maintenance is concerned. When they say you need your brakes changed after a certain amount of miles or that your tires have become unsafe because you’ve driven on them too long, they’re generally not trying to get money out of you. Vehicles take a lot of punishment, even on good city roads, and they need to be maintained properly. Make sure that you get your brakes checked regularly, that you get regular tune-ups and that you change your tires according to the manufacturer’s schedule.