Holiday travel is exciting and adventurous, but when injuries happen while you’re away from home, it can ruin the occasion, as a personal injury attorney, like from Yearin Law Office, knows. The good news is there are some things you can do to prepare for your travels and strive to stay safe while you’re on the road. The following are just a handful of ideas to get you headed in the right direction.
1. Take Your Car in for an Inspection
You do not want to be stuck somewhere over the holidays because you had car trouble and couldn’t make it to your destination. Before you leave, schedule an inspection with your local car mechanic. Have him or her take a look at your oil, your engine, your tires and any other components that typically cause problems on long adventures. If you’ll be traveling in harsh weather conditions, ask the mechanic to ensure you have the right tires and everything else necessary to be safe while on snow, ice or otherwise dangerous roads.
2. Learn How to Drive in Wintry Conditions
If you don’t live in an area that gets snow during the winter, but that’s where you are headed for the holidays, take a course in how to drive in wintry conditions. It is quite different to drive while it’s snowing than when it’s dry. The roads are slicker and you don’t have as much visibility when the snow is falling. If the snow sticks to the ground, that adds another level of driving complexity.
3. Prepare for Detours
If you run into any problems with road construction or severe storms that have shut down the road, you should know some alternate routes. Take out a map and mark the alternate routes with a highlighter so if your GPS stops working, you’ll have a resource to pull from.
4. Get Plenty of Sleep
While on the road for the holidays, you’ll want to be sure you get plenty of sleep. You might have to schedule additional stops if you are particularly tired and there aren’t any other drivers with you. If you are traveling with other drivers, you could switch off sleeping and driving so everyone is well rested and can avoid falling asleep behind the wheel.
5. Inform Someone of Your Plans
If something does go wrong, you’ll want someone to know what your plans are so help can be sent your way. Give a trusted friend or family member your itinerary, including planned hotel stays, alternate routes and times when you plan to be at specific locations.
Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help
If your holiday travels turn up personal injuries, you’ll want someone on your side to help you through the legal process. Contact a personal injury lawyer today for help.
