A distracted driver can cause all sorts of damage on the road. They can damage property or cause physical damage to their vehicle and others, and it can be hard to recover from an accident caused by distracted driving. Learning to drive defensively is a helpful tool that helps you and other drivers stay safe on the roads at all times, avoiding the risk of an accident caused by being distracted behind the wheel.

In a defensive driving course, you’ll learn to use safe driving techniques and strategies to prevent the likelihood of an accident occurring due to recklessness, carelessness, traffic hazards, or even inclement weather conditions.

The basis of defensive driving is to prevent car accidents in every way possible. Not only must cars be safe around other cars, but being aware of motorcycles, trucks and pedestrians nearby are also crucially important for keeping everyone safe. Even one small mistake, oversight or delay in judgement can cause an accident that can change your life forever. By taking a defensive driving course, you learn the tools to safely navigate these situations and keep yourself and others safe on the road at all times.

What Do You Learn In A Defensive Driving Course?

How exactly does someone drive defensively? Of course, all drivers know it’s unsafe to drive aggressively, too fast, or otherwise in a manner that doesn’t account for the safety of all the other vehicles on the road. But defensive driving is much more than just learning to be careful

Defensive driving lessons cover:

Training your reactions: Learn how to react to dangerous situations before they happen by teaching yourself to be aware of your surroundings and potential hazards. For example, jaywalking is the act of crossing a street illegally, for example by walking outside marked crosswalks. By training your reactions when you come across a jaywalker, you lessen the risk of causing an accident.

Be aware of psychological factors: You’ll learn to always be aware of your mood and to recognize how it impacts how you function behind the wheel. Driving while emotionally upset, stressed, angry, or even over-tired can be extremely dangerous and can impair your driving for the worse.

Navigating traffic hazards: Defensive driving courses teach you to take preventative measures to mitigate the risk of a car accident by being aware of traffic hazards around you, such as sharing the road, giving the right of way, stopping at a safe distance, and more.

Avoiding human error: Avoiding human error includes not using drugs and alcohol before getting behind the wheel, and learning more about the impact of human error and judgment on driving. Human error accounts for a high percentage of car accidents, and by learning the tools to avoid these errors, everyone is more safe on the road.

Anticipating hazards: You will learn to anticipate other drivers’ behavior based on physical and non-verbal cues, and will learn how to react to these cues in a way that reduces the risk of danger on the road.

State traffic laws: Defensive driving will teach you about state-specific traffic laws to lessen the risk of getting a traffic ticket or moving violation, which could carry heavy fines or even jail time. Additionally, learning the laws helps you get a better understanding of what risks exist on certain highways and roads.

Why Is Defensive Driving Important?

All those who share the road – cars, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians, all owe a duty of care to others at all times. In the state of Louisiana, accidents happen every day, and sadly many of them could have been prevented. Taking a defensive driving course equips you with the important knowledge you need to increase safety on the road, avoid the chance of getting into an accident, and mitigate the risk of getting a costly ticket or moving violation.

How Can A Lawyer Help After A Car Accident?

If you should find yourself in a car accident, due to distracted driving or otherwise, you’ll need the help of a lawyer to file a successful personal injury claim. Negotiating a fair settlement for a car accident can be hard. Insurance companies often give victims lowball offers. However, our team of auto accident lawyers can hold those insurance companies accountable and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.

If you have suffered any kind of car accident in Louisiana, contact The Law Office of Glenn C. McGovern for a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your accident situation. Our legal team will stop at nothing to get you the settlement you deserve to pay your medical bills.