Whether you are traveling through the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, or another interstate highway, you must drive with an abundance of caution. This is because highways may be considered more dangerous than local roads. This is especially true if you are traveling at a certain time of day (i.e., during rush hour) or year (i.e., during a holiday weekend). Follow along to find out how to ensure your safety while driving on the highway and how one of the proficient Bergen County auto accident attorneys at McNerney & McAuliffe can aid you in the event of a crash.
How do I ensure my safety while driving on the highway?
Unfortunately, drivers may drive recklessly throughout the state of New Jersey, especially on its highways. This is because reckless drivers tend to increase their speed on the highway, which significantly diminishes their allotted reaction times. Plus, reckless drivers tend to tailgate during traffic congestion on the highway, along with even making illegal maneuvers to surpass the bottleneck, which commonly results in rear-end accidents.
Regardless of what the specific case for reckless driving might be, you must always practice defensive driving on the highway. This means that you must be constantly scanning everything in your line of vision to anticipate any potentially dangerous situation. What’s more, you may further ensure your safety while driving on the highway in the following ways:
- Make sure to minimize your blind spots by turning your head and neck and looking over your shoulder before you change lanes.
- Make sure to frequently use your peripheral vision to spot vehicles that enter the highway from the curbs, breakdown lanes, or otherwise entrance lanes.
- Make sure that you hold your lane so that there is a safe amount of space between you and the cars in neighboring lanes.
- Make sure that you maintain a safe distance, at least the size of a standard motor vehicle, between your car and the car in front of you; longer if there is an 18-wheeler truck present.
How do I safely handle my auto accident on the highway?
In the event of a crash, there are certain procedures that you must follow for your potential, future auto insurance claim and personal injury claim. However, these procedures may be difficult to execute if your auto accident took place on the highway. Rest assured, it is still possible to safely handle this by taking the following approach:
- Put on your hazards and safely pull over to the breakdown lane; if it is safe to drive your vehicle further, you may want to pull over to the nearest exit.
- Do not get out of your vehicle to speak with the other driver; instead, dial 911 from the safety of your driver’s seat.
- Wait for a law enforcement officer to arrive at your location; they may go back and forth between vehicles to exchange contact and insurance information.
- Exit your vehicle only when you get clearance to do so; a law enforcement officer may block off a lane or a medical first responder may safely escort you.
So when it comes to your accident claim, there is no question that the talented Bergen County personal injury attorneys are the best fit for you. Please contact McNerney & McAuliffe at your earliest possible convenience.
